Sage Bray Varon

This past couple of weeks, I’ve been working on a short story specifically for an anthology competition. This is the first serious consideration I’m had for submitting my fiction work since I was in my 20s. In this year of writing, I’ve gone back and forth on whether to submit work even for literary magazines, online magazines, and other digital periodicals. So, to do a contest is a bit of a leap.

My hesitation to submit my shorter work comes from asking myself this one essential question: What do I want to get out of this and is it worth it?

Which got me thinking about the question, what exactly do we get out of creative competitions?

Submitting for publication and entering contests or competitions does not necessarily fulfill a core creative need, but they often fulfill something else that either supports our creativity, assists in our financial well-being, or connects us to others. But when are those good reasons to turn from our primary work? When should we give up our attention and energy for something that may not pan out?

I don’t have a simple answer for that because it depends on each individual. Publishing in periodicals, winning an art competition, or auditioning for a show are, in some cases, the only way to share your work and to be heard by the people you want to hear you. Other times, we feel the need to bolster our list of accomplishments in order to get more regular sales, commissions, or work.

But sometimes, we simply want to do it for the validation. Is that okay? I think so. A lot of creative work is lonely stuff and, in some cases, you get little or no helpful feedback. So, winning contests, getting into an exclusive gallery show, or being published in a respected publication bolsters your confidence and affirms the worth of your work by others. That can be highly motivating. Of course, if you don’t when I get published, you have to be able to deal with the rejection. For a lot of people, that alone makes it not worth it.

Also, keep in mind that participating in such competitive projects will take time away from your primary work or require you to work on themes or with materials you don’t have a keen interest in. Do you need the validation or extra item on your credentials enough to give up that time or your preferred mode of self-expression?

Publications and contests will also give you additional exposure, which sounds great, but consider how that exposure represents you. If you gain publication for a horror story but are most interested in writing period romance, or you win a contest for floral artwork but your heart is in abstracts, that exposure won’t help promote you and your core work. In fact, it could be detrimental if future publishers only want to see more horror stories or galleries just want your floral pieces.

Of course, every time you try something new, you have the opportunity to learn something about yourself and to grow your work. You might even find you really love writing horror stories or painting flowers. But, if competing forces you to work in a form or theme that you do not have an interest in, you may not be competing for the right reason.

So, what are the right reasons?

• Compete because it’s going to help you grow, either by getting you and your work out there more often or because it will shake things up and force you to try to push your boundaries.
• Compete because you are in a slump and you need a break as well as something to get you excited again.
• Compete because the competition or publication is in the theme, materials, and form you work in or would like to work in.
• Compete because it could help you grow the market you are trying to get your work in front of.

There are probably a few other reasons to compete that are specific to your circumstances, but just remember to ask yourself the question… What do I want to get out of this and is it worth it for me and my work?

I think it’s also smart to ask yourself, as you are creating for the competition or publication, if it’s still working for you at key points in the process. There’s a litmus test for this. If, while creating, planning, or designing, you don’t really think about the contest or publication but, instead, are absorbed in the work, then you’re probably in a good place with it. You’re being self-expressive and true to your own unique creativity.

If, on the other hand, you create while constantly second-guessing what the judges or editors will pick, your focus isn’t in the right place. Sure, you need to follow their guidelines, but this is art, not final exams. You should feel free to create as you need to. The fact is, originality of voice is what most judges and editors are hoping for and that can only be accessed if you focus on the work, not whether you will win or get published.

Competing is very much like selling your work. Do the work, then find the market for it. Not the other way around. So, if creating for something competitive makes sense for you at this time, find the competition or publication that will want the kind of work you already do. Choosing a competition or publication this way will give you a better chance of success, both in the competition and with your work.

 

October Prompt

So, this story I’ve been working on… it came partly out of last month’s prompt to work on our fears. Did you work on that prompt? What did you come up with? I came up with a fear that the work I do won’t matter, that it won’t really help anyone, or add joy to their life because I just don’t have the skills to do that. And I realized that’s probably why I need to write a blog. I need to do something that I feel could really and truly help others. And thanks to all your comments and “coffees” I do feel like I’m doing that!

The story I wrote did not end up really being about that, but starting from that point gave me some really interesting and different ideas. I wish I could share what I did, but it’s being submitted so I can’t until after it’s published, if I am so lucky as to get that opportunity.

This month, how about a prompt drawn from a competition? Just look for competitions or publications that interest you. They don’t have to be ones that you plan to submit to. Reading through them can simply be a great source of new ideas.

If you are unaware of where to find such things, a Google search with your creative form (short stories, poetry, painting, art jewelry, fiber art, etc.) plus the word competition should dig up a few things if not entire sites or lists for them.

For instance, writers and poets could check out these listings — https://www.pw.org/grants

And visual artists can find all sorts of ideas here: https://www.callforentries.com/category/art/competitions-and-contests/

Remember, you don’t actually have to submit to do this prompt. You can just find a contest or publication that is looking for something in the same vein as the work that you do, then ask yourself what you might create for such a competition or publication.

If you come up with something you really want to try, go for it. Then, if you do love what you create, send it out and see what happens. But if all you get from this prompt is a few new ideas, that’s a success!

 

[Photo by Jess Bailey www.jessbailey.com.au]