Judging Writing Competitions by Helen Chambers

I've been a first (and second) round reader for three different writing competitions in the UK over the years.  In each case, it was an honour to read so much good writing. It was also time-consuming. Crucially, it was an education. Here's some of what I learnt:

1. It's difficult to place in a big competition (research the number of entries and work out your odds!). You might have more success submitting to journals.
2. A long-listed place, a short-listed piece or an honourable mention, is a win! If your piece has been selected from an entry of hundreds or even thousands for a special mention, you've done brilliantly and should congratulate yourself.
3. Furthermore, a long-listed piece can be polished/tweaked and submitted elsewhere in the knowledge it is of a good standard.
4. Many very good pieces of writing don't quite make the long-list - yours may be among them, don't despair.  Do read the winning entries, learn from them and keep on writing!
5. Likes and dislikes are highly subjective.  All the competitions I've read for have had sensible, rigorous and objective criteria, and often more than one reader for each place.  Good writing is admired and recognised, even if it's not to personal taste, but despite that, I'll say it again - writing is subjective!
6. To place in a competition, your entry needs to be unusual and eye-catching, for example, form, content, style - different from the pack.  The readers will encounter hundreds of good (and 'samey') stories. What could make yours stand apart?
7. If the competition is themed, and you haven't made the theme central to your story, that may be enough reason for it not to be placed, however good it is.
8. If you use the theme the same way as many of the other entrants, it won't stand out either. How could you approach the theme 'slant-wise'? Use varied word meanings and layers and READ, READ, READ successful fiction!
9. For many flash competitions, 'heavy' and serious themes will predominate - flash is such a good vehicle for it.  Writing humour, historical, and speculative fiction might help draw attention to your piece.
10. Check and re-check for typos, spelling and punctuation errors - never submit a lazy entry.  Only ever submit your absolute best.

I was most recently a reader for The Welkin Prize in March 2023.  Their (free) 'Mini' 100-word competition opened on 1st December 2023