at the entry fees will be fair compared to what is on offer. Most contests will ask for an entry fee of a few pounds/dollars, and will offer discounts for multiple entries. Commonly, this fee will go towards the prizes and towards expenses, and that is fair enough.

If all that is offered is, for example, $100 or less for first place, and an entry fee is required of $5 or more per entry, it may be time to consider if it is worth it. If publication is offered along with a similar monetary award, things look more interesting. Do beware, though, of contests that offer publication in an anthology, but that do not even promise at least one free copy if your work will be used. If your work is so good that they announce you a winner, you shouldn't have to pay to see your work in their publication!

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There comes a point in most writers' lives where they consider their chances of getting published. Whether you are a poet, short story writer or novelist, the idea of seeing your words in print and sharing your creations with a wider audience is likely to appeal. One way of getting your work seen is through entering contests. Commonly, the judges are experienced and many contests offer some hope for publication.

With the variety of writing contests available, however, it can be daunting to choose which ones might be suitable for you to enter. There are many questions that need to be answered, not in the least regarding any copyright issues.

It probably goes without saying that first of all you have to find a contest suitable for your kind of writing and preferred genre. It is easy to find a large amount of short story contests, poetry contests and so on, or even combinations thereof. The next step is to check the website, if available, and look at the entries of previous winners. Quite often these will be posted and they will give you an idea of what the judges are looking for. Though everyone's works are as unique as the person writing them, you might notice some similarities in winning entries. If your style is completely different, it is probably advisable to look for somewhere where the judges are more on your wavelength.

Whilst you are on the website, find the contest rules and guidelines and give them a thorough read. Well-organised events will outline their copyright policy, and this should be of particular interest to you. There are, unfortunately, some contests out there that will state in fine print that if your entry places, you surrender all rights to the piece submitted. If this is the case, it is time to wonder if such a contest is worth it. All too often it isn't.

The vast majority of respectable writing contests will not ask you to surrender your rights to your creations. If part of the prizes for the winners involves publication in, for example, a poetry collection, they will ask for non-exclusive rights. This means that you retain the rights to your work and can offer it elsewhere for publication in the future. You merely grant them the right to use the winning piece for those publications stated.

Some contests will ask for first rights. You retain the rights to your work, but the publishers associated with the event want to be the first to publish your winning piece. After that, you can offer the same work for publication elsewhere.

If you are unclear about the wording in the section that covers copyright policies, I recommend asking for a clarification from the contest holders and/or asking advice from other writing friends with the relevant experience.

Copyright is a complicated field. The explanations above are only very basic outlines, and I would recommend anyone thinking of publication to look into this topic before committing to anything. This may sound scary, but it is always best to be safe and the knowledge gained will serve you well for the rest of your writing life.

If you are satisfied with a contest's copyright policy, it is time to look at the prizes on offer as well as any entry fees. Another sign of a respectable event is that the entry fees will be fair compared to what is on offer. Most contests will ask for an entry fee of a few pounds/dollars, and will offer discounts for multiple entries. Commonly, this fee will go towards the prizes and towards expenses, and that is fair enough.

If all that is offered is, for example, $100 or less for first place, and an entry fee is required of $5 or more per entry, it may be time to consider if it is worth it. If publication is offered along with a similar monetary award, things look more interesting. Do beware, though, of contests that offer publication in an anthology, but that do not even promise at least one free copy if your work will be used. If your work is so good that they announce you a winner, you shouldn't have to pay to see your work in their publication!

When

rge amount of short story contests, poetry contests and so on, or even combinations thereof. The next step is to check the website, if available, and look at the entries of previous winners. Quite often these will be posted and they will give you an idea of what the judges are looking for. Though everyone's works are as unique as the person writing them, you might notice some similarities in winning entries. If your style is completely different, it is probably advisable to look for somewhere where the judges are more on your wavelength.

Whilst you are on the website, find the contest rules and guidelines and give them a thorough read. Well-organised events will outline their copyright policy, and this should be of particular interest to you. There are, unfortunately, some contests out there that will state in fine print that if your entry places, you surrender all rights to the piece submitted. If this is the case, it is time to wonder if such a contest is worth it. All too often it isn't.

The vast majority of respectable writing contests will not ask you to surrender your rights to your creations. If part of the prizes for the winners involves publication in, for example, a poetry collection, they will ask for non-exclusive rights. This means that you retain the rights to your work and can offer it elsewhere for publication in the future. You merely grant them the right to use the winning piece for those publications stated.

Some contests will ask for first rights. You retain the rights to your work, but the publishers associated with the event want to be the first to publish your winning piece. After that, you can offer the same work for publication elsewhere.

If you are unclear about the wording in the section that covers copyright policies, I recommend asking for a clarification from the contest holders and/or asking advice from other writing friends with the relevant experience.

Copyright is a complicated field. The explanations above are only very basic outlines, and I would recommend anyone thinking of publication to look into this topic before committing to anything. This may sound scary, but it is always best to be safe and the knowledge gained will serve you well for the rest of your writing life.

If you are satisfied with a contest's copyright policy, it is time to look at the prizes on offer as well as any entry fees. Another sign of a respectable event is that the entry fees will be fair compared to what is on offer. Most contests will ask for an entry fee of a few pounds/dollars, and will offer discounts for multiple entries. Commonly, this fee will go towards the prizes and towards expenses, and that is fair enough.

If all that is offered is, for example, $100 or less for first place, and an entry fee is required of $5 or more per entry, it may be time to consider if it is worth it. If publication is offered along with a similar monetary award, things look more interesting. Do beware, though, of contests that offer publication in an anthology, but that do not even promise at least one free copy if your work will be used. If your work is so good that they announce you a winner, you shouldn't have to pay to see your work in their publication!

Whe

ll state in fine print that if your entry places, you surrender all rights to the piece submitted. If this is the case, it is time to wonder if such a contest is worth it. All too often it isn't.

The vast majority of respectable writing contests will not ask you to surrender your rights to your creations. If part of the prizes for the winners involves publication in, for example, a poetry collection, they will ask for non-exclusive rights. This means that you retain the rights to your work and can offer it elsewhere for publication in the future. You merely grant them the right to use the winning piece for those publications stated.

Some contests will ask for first rights. You retain the rights to your work, but the publishers associated with the event want to be the first to publish your winning piece. After that, you can offer the same work for publication elsewhere.

If you are unclear about the wording in the section that covers copyright policies, I recommend asking for a clarification from the contest holders and/or asking advice from other writing friends with the relevant experience.

Copyright is a complicated field. The explanations above are only very basic outlines, and I would recommend anyone thinking of publication to look into this topic before committing to anything. This may sound scary, but it is always best to be safe and the knowledge gained will serve you well for the rest of your writing life.

If you are satisfied with a contest's copyright policy, it is time to look at the prizes on offer as well as any entry fees. Another sign of a respectable event is that the entry fees will be fair compared to what is on offer. Most contests will ask for an entry fee of a few pounds/dollars, and will offer discounts for multiple entries. Commonly, this fee will go towards the prizes and towards expenses, and that is fair enough.

If all that is offered is, for example, $100 or less for first place, and an entry fee is required of $5 or more per entry, it may be time to consider if it is worth it. If publication is offered along with a similar monetary award, things look more interesting. Do beware, though, of contests that offer publication in an anthology, but that do not even promise at least one free copy if your work will be used. If your work is so good that they announce you a winner, you shouldn't have to pay to see your work in their publication!

Whe

ng piece. After that, you can offer the same work for publication elsewhere.

If you are unclear about the wording in the section that covers copyright policies, I recommend asking for a clarification from the contest holders and/or asking advice from other writing friends with the relevant experience.

Copyright is a complicated field. The explanations above are only very basic outlines, and I would recommend anyone thinking of publication to look into this topic before committing to anything. This may sound scary, but it is always best to be safe and the knowledge gained will serve you well for the rest of your writing life.

If you are satisfied with a contest's copyright policy, it is time to look at the prizes on offer as well as any entry fees. Another sign of a respectable event is that the entry fees will be fair compared to what is on offer. Most contests will ask for an entry fee of a few pounds/dollars, and will offer discounts for multiple entries. Commonly, this fee will go towards the prizes and towards expenses, and that is fair enough.

If all that is offered is, for example, $100 or less for first place, and an entry fee is required of $5 or more per entry, it may be time to consider if it is worth it. If publication is offered along with a similar monetary award, things look more interesting. Do beware, though, of contests that offer publication in an anthology, but that do not even promise at least one free copy if your work will be used. If your work is so good that they announce you a winner, you shouldn't have to pay to see your work in their publication!

Whe

at the entry fees will be fair compared to what is on offer. Most contests will ask for an entry fee of a few pounds/dollars, and will offer discounts for multiple entries. Commonly, this fee will go towards the prizes and towards expenses, and that is fair enough.

If all that is offered is, for example, $100 or less for first place, and an entry fee is required of $5 or more per entry, it may be time to consider if it is worth it. If publication is offered along with a similar monetary award, things look more interesting. Do beware, though, of contests that offer publication in an anthology, but that do not even promise at least one free copy if your work will be used. If your work is so good that they announce you a winner, you shouldn't have to pay to see your work in their publication!

When a contest asks for all rights and hardly offers any reward, nor a complimentary copy of any publications, all I recommend you to do is to move on and find a better place for you to submit your work to.

Though I do advise you to look through the fine print and weigh everything before taking part, most contests are respectable and an excellent way to get your work out there. Placing in contests is a great step towards future publication and possibly becoming the next big name in the literary world.

Last but not least, don't forget to have fun! That is what writing is about, after all.