jeudi 15 novembre 2018

How To Find Poetry Contest Sites That Fit You

By Stephen Burns


While poets do it for fun, honing your skills against those of others and making something out of it is not such a bad idea. There are numerous poetry contest sites you can explore. However, some of these websites will give you a raw deal and kill your writing career. You need a platform that allows you to thrive. How do you identify such a platform amidst the many that line the internet?

The competition must be organized or run by a team of professionals. The most trusted professionals are organizations interested in arts, departments of literature or veteran poets. Where a competition is organized by an individual, it should have the backing of a reputable organization or brand. Credible organizers assure you of fairness and that your pieces will be treated with the dignity they deserve. Participation enhances your writing skills.

The reputation of the website you enter is an issue of concern. It takes time to build a reputation. It means that such organizers must have been in the industry for a while. The competition must also be running for a while. Check reviews or interact with participants who have entered the previous editions. Do not waste time and resources on competitions whose outcomes are predetermined.

The organizers should provide more exposure to winners and participants. This usually happens during shortlisting and once the winners have been announced. Exposure comes in the form of seminars and opportunities to display your work to the world of poetry. It means that by the end of the contest, whether you win or lose, you will have improved on your skills.

The reward given should meet a decent threshold. Some give rewards in form of money. The rewards given to others comes in the form of publishing deals, participation in exhibitions and meeting prominent poets, among other options. The reward given must be worth the effort you make to complete the piece. It must also not be below the money you register with, just in case you have been asked to register.

The winners of the contest must be genuine and publicly announced. You ascertain this by ensuring that entry or participation rules are clear. The judging criterion should be publicized so that participants can determine who is in and who is out. Judges should be impartial and provide everyone with an opportunity to win. There should also be different categories of participation, for example, beginners, intermediate and pros, among other, in order to give an opportunity to all.

The rules of entry and participation should be fair to all. This also means easy modes of submission, well publicized contests and sufficient time to make your submission. It means that everyone can participate. This increases competition and gives you a perfect feel of the market. It is easier to make submissions online since you can do it anytime and from anywhere.

Where there are proceeds from the competition, they must trickle down to the writers of these poems. Organizers may think of producing books or such other materials. Loyalties and collections from any sales made must be sent to writers. You should insist on being acknowledged as the author despite receiving your cash prize. This raises your profile as a poet and enables you to enjoy the rewards of your talent.




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