Writing Contests: Helpful or a Hindrance? · 9:56pm Jul 15th, 2014
These tend to pop up all over fimfiction, and I'm sure you've noticed them at least once or twice. The crop up in shipping groups, in writing groups, and in groups that you didn't even know existed until you got wind that one of these was happening in that group.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am speaking of the notorious writing contests.
It seems these days you can't go a week without some story written for a particular writing contest popping up in the feature box or without some writer promoting the contest because group notifications are still down out of the goodness of their heart. But my question to you, faithful followers, is are writing contests a good thing? I ask because I've heard arguments for both yes and no, and I think both have some merit.
On the one hand, you could argue that contests create a (small) surge in interest in a particular group or shipping pair that may otherwise be rather stale. They draw the attention of writers, both experienced and green, and can inspire people who normally aren't interested in a particular subset of fanfiction writing to toss their hat into the ring. They can at the same time bring some of the better writers together and get them to duke it out, which is always fun to watch. Hell, I'll be the first to admit that contests for the TwiDash group at least have churned out some of the more memorable pieces of TwiDash fanfiction out there. The allure of competition can get otherwise inactive writers (cough) off their asses to pump out some of their best work. The concept of a deadline can actually get something done, and it brings the community of whichever group is hosting the contest to life.
However, that isn't to say contests are perfect. Ignoring the idea of getting prizes, for every good fic that comes out of a contest, there are two other bad fics right behind it. Just ask the judged for any contest and they can tell you some real horror stories. And even then, good writers under pressure of a deadline will often, in a desperate attempt to finish their story on time, churn out something that may have started great but ends horribly rushed and otherwise "ruins" a great story. Then, one could say that for every five people that enter a contest, only two will fart something out for us to read. And while you could say that contests attract new writers to the group/ship/whatever, what are the chances that you're ever gonna see that person write anything else if whatever they write isn't received well? It's the bane of all new writers, yes, but when you're trying for a contest, there's a certain amount of disheartening that is carried along with it.
Well, those're my two cents, but before I go back to whatever I do I would like to point anyone reading this to a group contest that just finished today. Some of you may have heard of this smaller, "secondary" TwiDash Group, and they just wrapped up their second contest today! You may have already seen some of the entries, and if you have, then I hope you can agree that they're pretty fantastic. I'd specifically like to direct you to a couple in particular, as they're all really good and written by some of the best around.
By: ssjgokillo
<Story Lacks Cover Image>
By: Kodeake
<Story Lacks Cover Image>
By: elPossenreisser
These are all pretty awesome and you guys should totally check them out. Huh, guess I ended this contest blog on a positive note, eh?
I think contests are a great idea, as it brings people together. On top of that, people might finally find the motivation necessary to actually go on and write something, and when they realize how fun it is, they might want to stick around and write more!
But as for me? I've never written anything for any contest ever. I much prefer to write on my own time and not when there is some deadline looming down over me.
Contests do me more good than bad. They make me stop procrastinating and pump out a story in less time than it would take me usually.
My vote: helpful.
If it weren't for contests, I would still be poking at my unfinished ponifics in the safe environment of my hard disk where no critical eye would ever read them (and tear them apart). My only way out was to announce I'd participate in a contest, so that I'd be forced to actually publish something here. One of the best decisions of my life. I also seem to work better when I have constraints (aka prompt) and some pressure (aka deadline).
As for the meh fics you get with a lot of contests - yes, you get them. But I think those (usually early attempts by unpracticed writers) have a good spot in a contest. They tend to get more exposure, and hence more likely get constructive criticism, giving the newbie author a chance to improve their work (disheartening as massive criticism may be, it's something one has to deal with when giving one's stories to anyone but the closest and most well-meaningly dishonest friends
)
That said, as a frequent flier, I really hope that organizing and judging in a contest is also rewarding for the folks who put their work into it (instead of their own stories). Because, um, thank you, and stuff
(Also, sweet Celestia, how lazy does it make me look having no cover image for that story?
)
2288744
I agree, and maybe you should enter the next TwiDash contest when it rolls around. See where you stand against some of the other writers, which is part of the fun~
2288746
2288917
Not procrastinating is always nice, but wouldn't it be nice if we could write fics without the deadline sometimes? Like if we could actually have the drive to put new stuff out without needing a cutoff point. And as for those who organize the contests, it can be really rewarding and sometimes it isn't. It really depends on how many entries there are and how much interest was taken.
(Also, it's fine not to have a cover image, your story is fine. If you think about it, killo's the odd duck here since he's the only one with cover art
)
2289289
I'm already writing a huge TwiDash story (you know which one), and I'd much rather not write two big romance stories at the same time. On top of that, my main story isn't going to be finished until around the end of the year, and then I'm going to immediately start on the sequel, which would be equally as long I think.
2289289 I have plenty ideas that I'd love to write and finish, and I really wish my drive was there to do them. Heck, I've had a Coco Pommel story in the works since the beginning of January, and I keep going back to it, only to keep losing my drive to finish it.
The thing I really do like about contests is that it gives me that extra push to complete something that I normally wouldn't have writing for my own sake.
And I usually like cover art. Its my personal preference, but a story should always have a picture to go with it.