With what is happening now in the writing world
As well as considering your characters’ fate
See what the industry has already unfurled.
A subscription to a writing mag
Will give you the information – it’s in the bag!
And such writing magazines will also give you details about competitions they run and/or recommend as well as useful hints for improving your work. It also makes a fascinating read in itself. It will also show agents and publishers you are taking matters seriously by taking an interest in the world you wish to enter.
When it comes to writing competitions
Make sure you know what you need to do
Or your fledgling success ambitions
Will disappear, taking your morale too
Use what typeface and font they ask for
Ensure you follow all of the rules
I know this sounds a terrible bore
But use your writing skills, your writing tools
And don’t throw possible success away
By not following whatever they say
About how submissions are to be sent in
Don’t let disobeying rules stop your win!
I’ve read so many interviews where judges say they have to discount a high percentage of competition entries due to people not following the rules properly. So automatically by making sure you do follow the rules, you give your story a much better chance.