Writing Competition Scams

We would all love to enter a writing competition and win, especially if there is a great cash prize at the end or even better...a contract with a literary agent!


However, with so many wannabe writers out there, it was only a matter of time for people to start cashing in on other's desperation and exploit this.

There are ten rules I live by before I think about entering any writing contests and these rules have been devised by past experiences with these competitions and researching other writers experiences.

My top ten rules before entering a writing competition are:

1. Who is hosting the competition?
2. Do they charge a fee?
3. Does this fee include a subscription?
4. What is the prize? (is there more than one?)
5. Have you heard any complaints about the judging process?
6. What about residencies, Grants and Fellowships?
7. Does everyone get published?
8. Is the contest a ploy to get writers to use a service?
9. Are there any typos in their promotional material?
10. Final Thoughts?

Who is Hosting the Competition?
Many of these competitions charge a fee, however they are usually quite evasive about where the money is going?

Do they charge a fee?

We all love free contests, however there are not many of them around! Usually, all free contests gets a thumbs up for myself, unless something about the competition or the competition website is unsuitable for younger readers.

Does this fee include a subscription?

If I was entering a free contest I wouldn't expect a huge prize at the end as for a free competition, you should be using it for a little publicity as this will be ample award. But if you are paying to enter, some of that money should go to the winner in the form of an advance or monetary prize. 

With regard to book contests especially, authors will have spent years of their lives on their manuscripts: they deserve some monetary compensation.

What is the prize? (is there more than one?)

If I was entering a free contest I wouldn’t expect a huge prize at the end as for a free competition, you should be using it for a little publicity as this will be ample award. But if you are paying to enter, some of that money should go to the winner in the form of an advance or monetary prize. 

With regard to book contests especially, authors will have spent years of their lives on their manuscripts: they deserve some monetary compensation.

Have you heard any complaints about the judging process?

Do your own research of the contest providers to see if they have done any contests in the past and what the feedback is from those who have entered. Do not look at reviews on their website as they will obviously favour the provider. Look on independent websites to see the truth.

What about residencies, Grants and Fellowships?

It's easy to check to see whether or not the contest is affiliated with a non-profit organization. Again, check on there websites to see if they mention or have other organisations logo’s on their pages and if they do, take note and look into this association.

Does everyone get published?

This is a funny one as some people think if they read that, ‘everyone gets published’ they should enter as it’s a win – win situation, however this is just a marketing strategy to get you interested and to pay the fee. 

Also, if that was the case, what would be the point of entering a contest as you would not be published based on your talent as everyone would be getting published anyway. Also, what would the quality of contract be like? What would the quality of your books be like when there published?

Is the contest a ploy to get writers to use a service?

Some contests offer writers criticism and then when they have completely ripped your work apart they work on these negative points to pitch opportunities to receive more for a price. Also, never pay a literary agent to read your work, through a contest or otherwise.

Are there any typos in their promotional material?

When you are researching a good writing contest to enter, read all the materials, including the website, carefully. If they're in the business of publishing writers, they should have impeccable English. 

Misspelled words, grammatical mistakes, and sloppy design can signal scams, as it shows how quick they have set up the organisation for quick money. These sloppy mistakes are also a good indication of how your own work will be treated. Even if the organization is perfectly legitimate, you can still feel embarrassed, rather than proud, when you see your work in print. 

Do you trust this association to care for your work? Do you like how they've presented themselves? If not, then think twice about being represented by them!

Final Thoughts?

Remember it is not just your money you are parting with, but also your work so think carefully before parting with your money. Consider how the organization might be manipulating your desire to see your work recognized. 

Do some research and post queries in forums to see if others have experience with a contest. A little time spent with questions like these will save you disappointment later.