Though I'm employed at a regular 9-5 desk job, I have always dreamed about being a published writer. I have got numerous story ideas drifting around in my head, and I have even committed some to paper in my free time. I know it's practically most unlikely to send my manuscripts to a major publishing house and hope that somebody will have a look at them, so I am going to do something slightly different with my stories. I am going to enter them into some favored fiction writing contests to discover how they fare. I have heard that fiction writing contests present unknown writers with a wonderful opportunity to be discovered.

Some of the most distinguished competitions are judged by successful writers, agents, or other industry insiders, which suggests I can truly build a name for myself if I put my best stories out there. Even if I do not win any of the fiction writing contests I enter, there is a likelihood that one of the judges could like my work best enough to request more manuscripts -- a move that might help launch a legit career. While getting discovered is my first goal, I have read that lots of budding short story writers and authors use fiction writing contests as a way of getting in-depth evaluations from qualified critics. That is due to the fact that the entry costs for lots of these competitions cover additional advantages like feedback, tips, and even workshops. This is the sort of interaction that helps many writers take their work to a higher level, and is something that I am concerned to get for myself.

Naturally, for many folks, the actual reason for entering a fiction writing contest is to win huge prizes. Some of the more illustrious fiction writing contests may even supply a coveted short term publishing contract as the top prize, which is something that all expectant writers would really like to win. I have got 2 short stories that I suspect would be good applicants for two these fiction writing contests. I'll probably begin with a couple of the smaller competitions just so I am able to familiarize myself with the entire process. After I learn rather more about how these events work, I could start entering the bigger competitions. With a touch of luck, I may even win something.