The first writing contest we ever conducted was won by a writer from New Jersey. Sean McMahon entered the 2019 Novel Opening Contest with his book Two A.M. Flavored Coffee. This was his debut novel, so it was quite an achievement to be able to win the contest in addition to having recently become an author.
More about Sean McMahon
From his website:
Hello from this side of the looking glass!
My name is Sean and I am a thirty six year old living in New Jersey in the USA. I am a father of one and when I am not trying to write as much as I can I am a painting contractor.
Ever since I was little I always wanted to write. I wrote my first story when I was thirteen and I started my first book when I was about the same age and finished it when I was seventeen. The story was not bad for a first try as my creative writing teacher told me. The “book” (and I use that term very loosely) was downright laughable and totally off the wall. My own opinion, but still. It was a fantasy novel and apparantly in the universe I created, physics just flat out didn’t exist.
BUT, it was about 50,000 words and i did it. It’s still sitting around in my office, waiting for the chance to be reworked and reimagined so it can prove itself. Myself, too.
In college I tried to write as often as I could. I had a workshop with a great teacher and I made a little story about four friends at a diner. Then I graduated, and life happened, as it tends to do sometimes, and my little story got put in a drawer for ten long years. But I never forgot about it.
It wasn’t until about three years ago when I decided I wanted to get really seious about it. It was time. I was given some encouragement by an author friend and spent many nights at my computer, spitting out whatever I came up with and eventually weaving it into something I am proud of.
So now I have begun something that I hope will continue, persuing my life long dream of being a writer. I may not be able to live off it, but just as I did when I was seventeen, I did it. And I can do it again.
Two A.M. Flavored Coffee is his first novel.
What are Writing Contests?
Writing contests are an opportunity for you to compete for recognition from a specific business or organization. They will narrow the entries down to a particular kind of writing (in this case, the opening of a published book), and select the winners from eligible entries. There is normally an opening date and a closing dead. The opening date is when the contest begins. This will be the day that the contest organizer begins accepting entries. The closing date is the deadline. This means that you’ll need to have your submission sent in before this date in order to qualify to compete for a prize in the contest. If you miss the deadline, you’ll have to wait until the next contest of that kind rolls around. Some contests may only happen once for a specific reason. For example, a baker may hold a contest to have someone write a new tagline for the company. Other contests are recurring, such as the Writerwerx University Novel Opening Contest. This means the contest takes place more than once. Some contests take place every week or month. Others may only take place every quarter or year. If a contest takes place more than once, consider entering each time since that increases your chances of winning. Over time, as you start to see what kinds of pieces normally win a contest, you’ll be more likely to be able to create one that can triumph.
Who Enters Writing Contests?
Anyone can enter a writing contest. All you need is the desire to write whatever kind of pieces the contest is looking for an the entry fee that contest requires. You can enter a contest as a first-time writer, a hobbyist writer, or even a professional scribe. Unless there are restrictions for the contest that apply to you (for example, for some contests you must be above or below a certain age), all are welcome to compete. For the Writerwerx University contests, this is the case. So long as you are at or over the age of 18, you can participate.
When Do Writing Contests Take Place?
Writing competitions take place all throughout each year. Some may be seasonal (for instance, a love poem competition taking place in February), but you can normally find various kinds of writing contest in various countries all year long.
Why Do People Enter Writing Contests?
Writing contests can have several benefits for writers.
Entering a contest helps you practice showing your work to strangers. If you have high anxiety about doing so, a writing contest is a great place to start trying to manage that kind of “stage fright.”
Writing contests often provide cash rewards that you can use to buy more writing supplies (notebooks, pens, etc.), buy more books, pay a bill, or purchase a ticket to a writing conference of some kind.
By entering a writing contest, you have a chance to win and show that off to your potential literary agent, potential readers, current fanbase, writer friends, and family members. Some contests even have badges that you can add to your website or book covers.
How Do People Enter Their Writing into Contests?
If you know how to fill out an electronic form and upload a document, you can enter just about any writing contest under the sun! Contest entries normally consiste of the following:
- Entering your name, address, and other basic contact information.
- Providing links to your website, social media profiles, or other award wins.
- Uploading a copy of your entry, often as a PDF.
- Pay your entry fee.