Should I Enter Poetry Contests? A damn fine question!
- Dyamund D
- Dec 1, 2021
- 3 min read
To compete is to live life on the edge!
What is the Reason for Entering a Competition?
“...I hate being told what to do. Bombarded constantly with new (and old) rules,...”
For me, this is a great secondary question after asking the first one - which is the title of this blog - because I believe that the answer is quite unique.
The main reason why I would enter a competition is for the challenge of writing according to someone else's specifications. Like many people I hate being told what to do. Bombarded constantly with new (and old) rules, regulations and lines we are told not to cross on a daily basis.
Entering a poetry contest is the only instance where I am requesting people provide barriers to my creativity. The streamlining process helps to look at the world and the creative art of poetry in a way that I may not have done under normal circumstances.
If you are going to enter into any sort of writing competition, you need to know why. It will also help you decide what kind of competition you decide to enter
The Fastest Way to Overcome Writers Block
“You are the invincible writer of splendid prose and poetic metaphors.”
Hey, it happens to everyone... you know what I'm talking about. You're all psyched up to get some serious writing done, your energy is flowing, you KNOW you're in the zone and nothing will stop you. You are the invincible writer of splendid prose and poetic metaphors. Then you realise... there's no lead in your pencil!
What's a man (or woman) to do? Here's an easy answer, enter a competition. This I think is an easy win. You get the inspiration for a topic to write about from an external source. This provides you with a chance to write one or more poems and add to your cache of material. As you're writing at competition quality, you can draw for your creative pieces a later date. For instance, if you want to create a compilation of poems.
Coulda been a contender... me thinks
“...decide what poetry competitions to enter, based on your own long term creative writing requirements.”
Throughout 2021 I was looking for competitions to enter, there are lists that you can find online that tell you what is out there. I managed to find the ones that piqued my interest and did a little research to see if what they were doing was for me.
Some I entered and others I left once knowing the fuller details of what was required. As I mentioned earlier, you should decide what poetry competitions to enter, based on your own long term creative writing requirements.
I found it to be a good idea to compose your own list of competitions throughout the year, so that you don't become overwhelmed with writing competitively and producing content for you r own artistic projects. There is always a balance to be struck.
The thing is about submitting your work, you have no idea how it will be received until either you win or you are a runner up - I must say, I haven't won a damn thing! However the beauty is, that once the competition is over, you can compare the winning submissions to your own work. You may find some new inspiration or methods of writing. I know I have.
You Gotta Be In It to Win it!
My final thought's, I'll keep short and sweet.
Enter... You have nothing to lose and everything to play for. Here's a list of benefits that I see can be gained from harmless writing competitions
You get brand new, quality content for your own projects
You get your work and name in front of other writers,
If you win, your work will be shown to new audiences
There are great prizes to be won
Learn new writing techniques and gain inspiration from other poets
You could get published in an anthology
Gives you a break from thinking up new material - avoid writers block
Best of all, you can have fun writing
What are you waiting for?
Get searching and get writing. There is a perfect competition for you and your pen-ship. The world of competition is waiting to hear from you.
"Put pen to paper, baby! " - Dyamund D endorses you.
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