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May 5, 2019 · Writing contests can boost your profile and win money, but how do you know if a writing contest is legit? Look for these 8 red flags.
Most are real; some are prestigious. But some are fake. While fake contests don’t make up a huge proportion of the total, there are enough of them to warrant caution. And even if a contest is legitimate, winning may not do anything to build your writing resume.
- Are the sponsors on the up-and-up? Look for contests sponsored by nonprofit literary groups, established publications, reputable publishing houses, colleges, and universities.
- Have you read the rules carefully? Make sure the contest rules state the following: deadlines, eligibility, format, fees, prizes, circumstances in which prizes will or won't be awarded, judging, and what rights, if any, you're granting.
- Is the entry fee reasonable? Most contests charge fees, usually ranging from $5 to $25. For one thing, it's time-consuming to administer a contest, but sponsors may also want to make a profit.
- Who's doing the judging? Judges should be published writers, past contest winners, editors at publishing houses, or representatives from known literary organizations.
Contests and Services to Avoid. More Scam-Fighting Resources. Warning signs of a bad literary contest. Sites that warn against scams. We suggest you avoid the following contests and organizations. Many appear to be disguised vanity publishers, whose goal is to sell you expensive personalized products and attract you to conferences.
Dec 17, 2023 · Some are outright scams or ripoffs. A few examples, drawn from Writer Beware’s files: A prestigious organization contacts you to let you know you’ve been nominated for an award. All you need to do is become member of the organization…for $99. But wait!
Feb 20, 2022 · Most writing contests are legit. But some contests you can be pretty sure are scams from the get-go. Look out for excessive fees, rights grabs, and puny prizes.
Feb 10, 2019 · Sure there are scams, but they usually don’t exist for long without being outed by the writing community. They are easily identified, and there aren’t enough of them out there to deter you from entering contests. Just because sharks swim the ocean, do you not visit the beach? Let’s simplify contests and make them more appealing.
