I was recently awarded the runner-up prize in the Just Write for Kids – Pitch It! competition.
This prompted me to write a blog post about kidlit competitions and why they’re such a fantastic opportunity for aspiring and established authors.
And it’s not just about the prizes…
Just like publisher guidelines, competitions have certain rules including formatting, word count and themes. This alone is good practice for submitting to a publisher.
Some competitions even offer judge feedback, so even if you don’t win, this may help you with future edits.
Getting placed is something to be proud of and you should definitely add this to your author bio. Even if you didn’t place, but perhaps came eighth or ninth, add it to your bio. You made the top ten! It’s an achievement and helps to show publishers how serious you are about writing.
And yes, I mentioned previously it’s not just about the prizes. But let’s face it, we all love a prize! Prizes vary of course, but many competitions will award winners with a publisher assessment. To get to the top of the slush pile is incredibly valuable!
So if you’re thinking of entering a competition but you’re nervous or unsure, go for it! You may not win. Or place. But you will increase your skills, polish your work and take another step towards your dream.
Here are some of the annual competitions I’ve submitted to:
Just Write for Kids – Pitch It!
CBCA NSW Aspiring Writers Mentorship
Jackie Hosking’s Spring Rhyming Competition
Know any others? Feel free to add in the comments below. Happy submitting and good luck!
Jeanette Stampone 