Lots of people win writing awards and gain a large cash income, year in year out. Just how do they do it? They learn what judges of writing award schemes look for.
Just about all writing contests, if fairly judged, will have strict conditions for assessing entries. Some contests publish their conditions, a few don't. But if they don't, how will you know what judges are searching for?
Here are the three most significant things that contest judges typically look for at the start.
Remember: all judges are individuals, as are literary agents and publishers' readers. An entry that lifts one judge into a rhapsody of incoherent joy will leave yet another cold. That's why a decent contest will have a 'points' scheme in place.
A scheme is essential - not so much in finding an overall winner (the standard of an exceptional entry typically speaks for itself), but in making fine decisions among, for example, the winner of a third award and a secondary award. (It also reduces the risk of judges disgreeing.)
Here's a common points system.
A top story will often have a total score of 30 points. The top 3 award winners commonly rate in the range of 25-30 points whilst the 10 shortlisted winners typically fall into the 20-25 points bracket.
To be sure, there is certainly still room for private judgement. Each judge will certainly give somewhat different - occasionally completely different - points in each category. That's why an entry that fails in one competition might well go on to win top prize in yet another. It's also the reason why, if you believe your story is great, you must keep on submitting - and improving it!
1. Exactly how well does the story reflect the theme, genre or author needs of the contest?
Don't assume all contests are themed. If the promotes ask simply for short stories of any kind whatsoever, this type of evaluation is inapplicable. But beware of a contest which has no stipulations. Maybe it lacks discrimination in other respects too?:) Usually the rules for theme, genre and/or author, etc, are clearly stated.
It should go without saying that you should not submit, for example, an undoubtedly 'Christmas' tale under a 'summer vacation' theme, or a poem, play or crime mystery to a children's fiction contest - or a story to a competition intended to recognize Afro-Caribbean writers if you can't, by any stretch of the mind, qualify as an Afro-Caribbean.
If it goes without saying, why declare it? Simply because, as many contest promoters will tell you: folks don't always look at the restrictions. A lot of entries are excluded from writing competitions simply because they disregarded the guidelines.
Total possible points: 10
2. Does the entry engage the reader on an emotional level throughout?
Several tales are impressively ingenious. They skip with ingenuity, wit or wordplay. Nonetheless they tend not to win over the judges. They're intellectual exercises.
The people in such tales are cardboard or the concepts trivial or the plot tenuous. Towards the end the reader no longer worries how the tale will work out. It takes massive craft skill to make the reader care about personas and situations which are totally fabricated.
Total possible points: 10
3. Is the entry original in its concept?
Of course, take a well known storyline or concept. There have been just a few dozen of them created since the start of humanity so you're not likely to invent a fresh one. But do something innovative with them!
The jilted lover who plans a cruel revenge on his/her faithless spouse goes right back to the story of Medea. But (I hear you cry) surely we could execute a new slant? We might have the spurned lover conceal his/her murder victim in a car port fridge freezer - just for the new lover, aghast, to come across it. Couldn't we? Nope. That's simply a re-run of Bluebeard's closet.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with reprising the concept of Bluebeard's closet, provided you disguise it by using a highly innovative twist!
Total possible points: 10
Those are simply the main three conditions which judges will use. Normally, they have many more. A much more complex scheme of criteria might consist of 100 points or even more, inspect a number of other factors.
But if your writing is good - and you get just the top three aspects correct every time - you're well on your way to gaining a five figure spare-time income from writing awards, every single year. It's a win-win profit scheme!
Just about all writing contests, if fairly judged, will have strict conditions for assessing entries. Some contests publish their conditions, a few don't. But if they don't, how will you know what judges are searching for?
Here are the three most significant things that contest judges typically look for at the start.
Remember: all judges are individuals, as are literary agents and publishers' readers. An entry that lifts one judge into a rhapsody of incoherent joy will leave yet another cold. That's why a decent contest will have a 'points' scheme in place.
A scheme is essential - not so much in finding an overall winner (the standard of an exceptional entry typically speaks for itself), but in making fine decisions among, for example, the winner of a third award and a secondary award. (It also reduces the risk of judges disgreeing.)
Here's a common points system.
A top story will often have a total score of 30 points. The top 3 award winners commonly rate in the range of 25-30 points whilst the 10 shortlisted winners typically fall into the 20-25 points bracket.
To be sure, there is certainly still room for private judgement. Each judge will certainly give somewhat different - occasionally completely different - points in each category. That's why an entry that fails in one competition might well go on to win top prize in yet another. It's also the reason why, if you believe your story is great, you must keep on submitting - and improving it!
1. Exactly how well does the story reflect the theme, genre or author needs of the contest?
Don't assume all contests are themed. If the promotes ask simply for short stories of any kind whatsoever, this type of evaluation is inapplicable. But beware of a contest which has no stipulations. Maybe it lacks discrimination in other respects too?:) Usually the rules for theme, genre and/or author, etc, are clearly stated.
It should go without saying that you should not submit, for example, an undoubtedly 'Christmas' tale under a 'summer vacation' theme, or a poem, play or crime mystery to a children's fiction contest - or a story to a competition intended to recognize Afro-Caribbean writers if you can't, by any stretch of the mind, qualify as an Afro-Caribbean.
If it goes without saying, why declare it? Simply because, as many contest promoters will tell you: folks don't always look at the restrictions. A lot of entries are excluded from writing competitions simply because they disregarded the guidelines.
Total possible points: 10
2. Does the entry engage the reader on an emotional level throughout?
Several tales are impressively ingenious. They skip with ingenuity, wit or wordplay. Nonetheless they tend not to win over the judges. They're intellectual exercises.
The people in such tales are cardboard or the concepts trivial or the plot tenuous. Towards the end the reader no longer worries how the tale will work out. It takes massive craft skill to make the reader care about personas and situations which are totally fabricated.
Total possible points: 10
3. Is the entry original in its concept?
Of course, take a well known storyline or concept. There have been just a few dozen of them created since the start of humanity so you're not likely to invent a fresh one. But do something innovative with them!
The jilted lover who plans a cruel revenge on his/her faithless spouse goes right back to the story of Medea. But (I hear you cry) surely we could execute a new slant? We might have the spurned lover conceal his/her murder victim in a car port fridge freezer - just for the new lover, aghast, to come across it. Couldn't we? Nope. That's simply a re-run of Bluebeard's closet.
Of course, there's nothing wrong with reprising the concept of Bluebeard's closet, provided you disguise it by using a highly innovative twist!
Total possible points: 10
Those are simply the main three conditions which judges will use. Normally, they have many more. A much more complex scheme of criteria might consist of 100 points or even more, inspect a number of other factors.
But if your writing is good - and you get just the top three aspects correct every time - you're well on your way to gaining a five figure spare-time income from writing awards, every single year. It's a win-win profit scheme!
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