Does anyone here enter writing contests?

[virgode]

You can go on Helium, they have writing contests.
I've gone on there and done essays and debates, that are
rated, after 5 articles they pay a few bucks.

The only concern I have with the site is someone using
and publishing your work, who knows where and getting
paid high dollar.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by Rocky Raab

The fun one is about to start. It's NANOWRIMO which stands for NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth. You have to write a novel of at least 50,000 words (novella, really) but can only do it during the month of November. Everyone who completes one gets a nifty certificate and a printed and bound copy of the work, free.

It's a bit schlocky, but that silly "contest" is what got my first book written. My wife urged me to enter and do it, in the hopes it might help end some of "those" dreams of Vietnam. It not only accomplished that goal, but resulted in a successful book - and a second one. Both sell quite nicely, thank you. The NANOWRIMO book is used as a textbook at Appalachian State, in fact.

Go to the link below if you are interested in a little bit of writing practice - and just maybe a successful novel. National Novel Writing Month

Hey, thanks! I will check that out. Congrats on your own success, past and future.

[Mightyqueen801]

You have to be careful, of course, but there are reputable ones. Writer's Digest holds a huge contest every year in the spring with multiple categories. There are also writing contests connected to scholarships, for those to whom that might apply. Some of the litmags run them also.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

I'm going to start character bios for NaNo next week.

I just joined the site and read through the rules. Sounds pretty cool--I think I'm going to do it.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by seque5tra

The last time I entered a writing contest was in the fifth grade. It was a state wide essay writing contest with the theme "What the Constitution Means to Me". My essay was chosen to represent our school and so I was invited by town hall to read it aloud at a town hall meeting. They presented me with a $50 savings bond and a certificate of merit.

To think I had the undivided attention that night of the entire town council. And they applauded for me and gave me $50? Twenty years later, I can't get these same town hall clowns to respond to my repeated requests to get a rotting shade tree on my property cut down.

Maybe I should send them an essay with the theme "What a Dead Shade Tree Means to Me When It Falls on My House or My Neighbor's Head and We All Start Suing The Township".

I think you should do exactly that with a foreword consisting of your first two paragraphs, above.

[Fred314X]

Originally Posted by virgode

The only concern I have with the site is someone using and publishing your work, who knows where and getting
paid high dollar.

Before you submit anything to anyone (a website, a publisher, a contest office), here's what you should do--and I tell you this as a person who used to work in the publishing field:

Make a copy of your work, put it in an envelope, and mail it to yourself. When it arrives in your mailbox, do not open it, but instead put it somewhere safe. The postmark happens to be legal proof that will stand up in court--you've just copyrighted your material! (If someone else claims to have written it, let 'em try to prove that theirs is the original version. You have legal proof that they're lying).

[virgode]

Makes sense, great idea.
Thank you

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by Fred314X

Make a copy of your work, put it in an envelope, and mail it to yourself. When it arrives in your mailbox, do not open it, but instead put it somewhere safe. The postmark happens to be legal proof that will stand up in court--you've just copyrighted your material! (If someone else claims to have written it, let 'em try to prove that theirs is the original version. You have legal proof that they're lying).

Mailing a manuscript doesn't create copyright. Writing creates copyright automatically. Reputable publisher don't want to deal with the headache of being sneaky. Work with those publishers and avoid the rest. If in doubt, don't submit.

[Fred314X]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

Mailing a manuscript doesn't create copyright. Writing creates copyright automatically. Reputable publisher don't want to deal with the headache of being sneaky. Work with those publishers and avoid the rest. If in doubt, don't submit.

I don't see how "writing creates copyright automatically." If you write a story, and I take that story and put my name on it then submit it to a publisher, for all that publisher knows, I was the author.

Let's say the story goes on to achieve a degree of fame. You know perfectly well that you were the author of that story, and so you go to court, accusing me of plagiarism. How do you prove that the story was yours? I'd probably contend that it was you trying to rip me off, rather than the other way around.

[Rocky Raab]

A "sealed envelope" wouldn't stand up in court. There are too many ways to unseal, insert and reseal envelopes, and courts know that.

These days, however, you might be able to show originality by emailing it to your self. emails are time-stamped automatically, cannot be faked and cannot be totally erased. It MIGHT work.