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Hey all! This
Hey all! This is a really old user from ages past popping in to say: Does anybody know of any good writing contests to enter?
I've been writing for several years now and I'm actually pretty good. I write short stories, realistic fiction mostly, and sometimes whatever the opposite of high fantasy (dragons, knights, kings and queens) is--think like Harry Potter, Mortal Instruments type stuff. Anyway I'm having trouble finding good writing contests to enter that don't cost a buttload of money. Suggestions?
submitted by Jess, age 15, Iowa
(August 14, 2013 - 11:11 am)
(August 14, 2013 - 11:11 am)
Well, of course Cricket is a good place to start! American Girl is another magazine that sometimes holds story contests, though I've been writing to them for years, and they only hold them every so often, and there's only one winner. It's hard to get in with them. Another magazine is Stone Soup. It's a magazine dedicated soley to art and stories by kids and teens. That's all it is. You send in some of your work, and they reply whether or not they accept you. You can also send art into them.
I'm afraid I don't know any others than that. But you can give it a try. And DON'T STOP WRITING NO MATTER WHAT! Trust me, this is coming from a girl who has faced A LOT of rejection! Keep trying, you never know!
(August 14, 2013 - 7:09 pm)
Huh -- you just described all the magazines I subscribed to.
Gertrude (remember her?): cvbo - um, somebody capybara vampires have body odor?
(September 5, 2013 - 6:46 pm)
I think Cicada Magazine also accepts work.
Yes, it does. Look for info at cicadamag.com.
Admin
(August 17, 2013 - 2:54 pm)
There's a youth magazine in my area that accepts student work. They might publish something from someone outside of the Hudson Valley: The GoodLife Youth Journal.
Admins, this website is totally safe and is an excellent oppurtunity for young authors.
(August 18, 2013 - 10:20 am)
Well, part of the problem is that I don't get--and can't afford--either Cricket or Cicada. So as a general rule I don't know when there's a contest going on or anything about it.
LONG ADMIN POST: The latest Cricket contest theme is always posted at http://www.cricketmagkids.com/contests. Bookmark that link! The contest deadline is three or four weeks after the each issue comes out; so the current contest is closed, but there will be a new contest in September with a deadline around September 25.
The latest Cicada Creative Endeavors theme is always posted at cicadamag.com/submitwork. Cicada also accepts general submissions (meaning stuff that's not related to the latest Creative Endeavors theme) from authors age 14+. You can also post on Cicada's The Slam (cicadamag.com/theslam), an online forum for writers.
Speaking of, has anyone used The Slam? What did you think?
(August 21, 2013 - 9:27 am)
Hey, my name twin!:D
I go on this website a lot called Figment. It's free to sign up and they're always running two or three contests, often with great prizes. I won a flash fiction contest once and got a free eBook. The contests normally have writing prompts and word limits, but they're pretty easy to work with and integrate into your story. The only thing is, if the contest is based on the number of likes, you have to go promote it everywhere on the site so people will like it, which isn't that fun. They do run a few contests not based on likes, though (actually, the likes are called hearts there). If you do make one, my penname's Esmeralda Rose. I follow a lot of other CBers.:)
(August 22, 2013 - 9:34 pm)
NAME TWIN I REMEMBER YOU! I might have to make a reappearance here, actually. I stopped because I ran out of time for it, but I think I can manage it now.
I will definitely check out Figment because it sounds awesome.
(August 23, 2013 - 2:33 pm)
If you're the Jess that just followed me, I followed back.:)
(August 23, 2013 - 6:01 pm)
Well, contests aren't always the answer, especially for teens, since I don't think one gets much "laurel" from winning a contest. However, I submitted to both Cicada and Stone Soup (I actually got accepted by Stone Soup, not bragging here) and they are both professional magazines that are really well reputed by the literary world. They're hard to get into, but they both accept fantasy. Give them a shot!
The Spammy says xray. It wants to xray my brain, or the computer.
(August 23, 2013 - 3:50 pm)
re: The Slam: I lurk there and everyone's writing is amazing. It's definitely better than most YA books on the market these days *cough*dystopias*cough*. The standards are definitely very high and the critics are intimidating (but they usually offer really supportive, up-front criticism) so I haven't submitted anything (yet). The Slam seems like a great community, especially if you want advice :D Also, when I'm bored with the current YA books I've picked up (I've given up on reading most dystopian novels (except Darkest Minds) especially if there's a love triangle which are usually annoying and cringe-worthy) I go on the Slam and gawk at, well, everything from microfiction to poems to critiques.
(August 23, 2013 - 6:21 pm)
I'm on Figment, too, though not recently, because school is starting soon and all that.
(August 23, 2013 - 7:34 pm)
Zach, do you still have the profile pic of the panda with the glasses?
(August 25, 2013 - 6:00 pm)
@ Everine
Wow! you got into Stone Soup! I get Stone Soup! What is the title of your story? What issue is it going to be in?
(August 28, 2013 - 8:41 am)
I'm curious too, also about which story is yours, Watermelon, if you are willing to tell me?
Gertrude: oeew - Owie ew, maybe
(September 5, 2013 - 6:49 pm)
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Poke!
(August 31, 2013 - 9:12 am)