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Cautions for writers; call for submissions

by Kay Day

typewrite.jpgHow do you know a contest is fair?

Most writers enter a contest at some point, and it’s often hard to tell when a contest is fair. The poetry world, aka Po-Biz, experienced a severe shakeup several years ago when a librarian founded the site Foetry to help poets make wise decisions before parting with entry fees as high as $35. Poets and Writers recently featured an article about two poetry contests that left entrants empty-handed.

There’s never a perfect method for determining fairness. But along the way I learned to be cautious. Here are some tips I learned the hard way:

  • Do a search using the contest name and insert words like ‘beware’ and ‘scam.’ Message boards for writing groups sometimes have feedback on contests members have entered.
  • If the fee is more than $10, proceed with caution, even if it’s a book contest.
  • If the fee is sponsored by a college, university, or fine arts association, if you’re not in an MFA program and if you don’t teach in such a program, proceed with caution. Many such contests select judges who have strong aesthetic preferences, such as those who absolutely will not select a poet who writes formal or rhymed verse.
  • Do research the judges’ backgrounds. If judges’ names aren’t listed, proceed with double caution.
  • If you’re asked to purchase an anthology your work is included in, just don’t. If you win or if you’re selected for publication, you should receive an anthology free.
  • Do read poems that have won past contests. They’re a good indication of what judges will look for.
  • Be extra cautious if a contest states the judges have the right to refuse to select a winner.

    • It’s been my personal experience that contests sponsored by established writing magazines are among the fairest.

    Arabesques Print Review seeks submissions

    The Arabesques Print Review is currently seeking submissions from international writers for upcoming issues. Arabesques publishes original poetry, literary criticism, interviews, fiction, nonfiction, stories, essays, translations, social and political commentary, art works and photographs.

    For complete guidelines, visit the Web site listed below in Recommended Links.

    ~~~Recommended Links:

    http://pw.org/mag/0703/newslarimer.htm
    Poets and Writers writeup about two contests gone awry.

    http://foetry.com/wp/?page_id=80
    Archives at Foetry; site is officially closed for posting but a great deal of information about contests is still online.

    http://kayday.com/biokayday.html
    Article at my Web site about Foetry; first published in The Writer.

    http://www.arabesquespress.org/journal/guidelines.html
    Guidelines for submission at Arabesques Press.

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    Posted in Magazines, Publishing, Writers' Resource, Writing Contests on July 17th, 2007

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