So, you've entered a writing competition...

Written by Ascent Novel Prize founder and competition addict, Hayley King

The first time I entered a writing competition, I obsessively checked the dates. When was the long list going to be announced? When would I know how good my story was? A few years in, and I’d receive an email saying I’d been long listed for a competition I’d forgotten I’d entered. So, conscious you could be anywhere on that spectrum, I’ve designed a self-assessment tool that will help you find the right level of advice:

It's my first entry into a competition, and I’m terrified:

Firstly, congratulations. You wrote a book. You kept going when the voice in your head told you to stop. You even kept typing when you were certain that everything you’d written was terrible. Our judge, Liza Deblock knows how nerve wracking sharing your work for the first time can be, and she’s honoured to be one of the first people who experience your story. She loves finding authors who have something beautiful to say, and that started when you trusted her to read your work. Thank you for that trust. And thank you for writing a story that only you could ever tell. Someone somewhere, is waiting to read your words. And if you’ve been brave enough to enter Ascent Novel Prize, you’ll be brave enough to release your hard-won words into the world so that your future fans can fall in love with your work.

I’m the writer who will define a generation (but on a bad day you may catch me burning my manuscript on a metaphorical fire, Little Women style):

There’ve been moments you’ve sat back, imagining who will be cast as your lead character when Netflix purchases the rights. How will you spend all that money? What lovely writer’s house will you move into? The next day, you reread the opening, and nothing works. What even is this drivel? You consider hurling your laptop out of an upstairs window. If this is you, know that your talent lies between these extremes. It is so difficult to judge the quality of your own work. You’re too close to it. So find trusted beta readers, and when you want to hit delete, walk away for a while. Your writing is never as bad as it seems.  

I’m a level-headed pragmatist.

I wish I were you. May I recommend our YouTube channel ‘Conversations on Craft’ as some light entertainment as you go about your well-ordered day.

This isn’t my first rodeo.

After entering a few competitions, you are ready for a mixed bag of results. Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose. Paradoxically, the goal of getting published or finding an agent can seem further away than when you began. To coin a fellow writer’s phrase: ‘every time you go on social media, someone’s sneezed out a book that’s in all the pretty bookshops.’ Luckily, this cynicism will prepare you perfectly for a life in publishing, so hold on to that and keep going.

I enter so many writing competitions, an intervention is needed.

Oh, this is my category. The thrill of the submission. The real-life deadline. The unexpected email announcing you’ve listed. Writing competitions are great for assessing how far your writing has come. When I first started entering writing competitions, I never listed and then, after using them to hone my craft, I made the top one hundred. The following year, I made several long-lists. The year after that, won highly commended. My progress as a writer was there in black and white. And yes, there were times I didn’t list at all. And yes, there were unexpected losses as well as the wins. But I was getting closer, because, in this subjective business of writing, perseverance pays off in the end.

Whatever your self-diagnosis, writing is a craft that can be learned. Read the best books the world has to offer. Deconstruct how it’s done. Read the extracts from people who won last year. How do they capture your attention? How do they balance action, dialogue and description? What’s in that first line? Is it description or interiority or a mix of both? And most importantly, keep going.  

After entering a writing competition, celebrate. Whatever the outcome, you did the work and shipped it. Your part is done. Your story exists, and there is no greater accolade than that. You’re one step closer to making your dream come true. Then, once the celebration is over, keep going. Open that laptop and start again. Because when someone falls in love with your work, they’re going to want to buy your next book! If you need some advice on how to keep going, check out our YouTube short with writer, Pim Wangtechawat.

Advice from Ascent Novel Prize reader, Pim Wangtechawat.

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What happens if I don’t list?

As Seth Godin says: “You are not your work. Your work is a series of choices made with generous intent to cause something to happen. We can always learn to make better choices.”

Writing competitions can offer a huge amount of validation for writers. They can be a sign that your work is of great quality. But not listing doesn’t mean you can’t write. All readers have their own individual preferences. Imagine going into a bookshop, and you’ve got the money for one book. What do you choose? How do you begin? You read the blurbs. Look at front covers. Or perhaps there’s a writer you can trust. When you’ve selected THE ONE, you’ve essentially rejected thousands of other books. You didn’t want Shakespeare. Or Agatha Christie. You rejected New York Times Bestselling authors, and you rejected the book you promised your best friend you’d read. This doesn’t mean these writers are terrible or their books unworthy. It’s simply that you had money only for one book. The same is true of writing competitions. There are a few spots on that shortlist, and the decision of why some writers make it and others don’t is entirely subjective.

This business is about art, and how it's perceived. It is impossible to say why my favourite author is Daphne Du Maurier and my husband’s is Mick Herron. But if you have a story you want to tell, all I can say is that it belongs in this world, whether or not it wins a competition. Your story counts. It deserves to exist. So whatever validation you need, give it to yourself. Because you deserve it.

So many people say they want to write a book, and so few actually do. You’ve crossed a finish line others only dream of. You fought self-doubt and forgave the extra lie in; you spent time away from your children or didn’t go out with friends; you’ve made the sacrifice it takes to produce something beautiful. I want to thank you for making something that could change this world for the better, perhaps a story about a forgotten past, or a character arc that could help someone change. And for those who entered Ascent Novel Prize this year, I want to thank you for the courage it took to share your words.

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Why entering a writing competition late may be your best move yet

Apologies to my child for making her run up the hill to school. As Andy Gilbert says, 'Give yourself a deadline to stop planning and to start taking action.'

Forgive me. I arrive late for everything. Time slips away, and before I know it, I’m making my children run up the hill to school. One has asthma. It’s not a good look. However, when it comes to writing, there’s an enjoyable thrill to a deadline. I’m not a risk taker, nor would you ever find me on some outrageous roller coaster ride, but hitting send on a document with five minutes to go…I love it.

In another life, I would’ve been an academic. I adored being immersed in the teaching of English Literature and was the first in my family to go to university. When writing an essay, I found the strangest thing happened. I channelled a voice that was more intelligent than my own. Lost in the rhythm of typing, I put together words and phrases that, when speaking aloud, I never would’ve been able to access. An introvert at heart, writing enabled me to let go of all social constraints and experiment. I won an award for my contribution to work on the Brontes and miss those days of academic challenge. But what I never share is how I always started my essays the night before they were due in, sometimes, dare I say, after a great night out.

Pretending to be an academic at Gladstones Library, Wales.

If I could go back, I’d take it seriously. Because I am more serious now. But at twenty, I was invincible. I could, somehow, get in at 4am and start typing. I could press print at 3pm and, with only an hour to travel into university and submit my assignment, feel relatively relaxed. Although there was that one time the bus was late, so I rang for a taxi, time ticking, and waited to see which one would arrive first. As Douglas Adams says, ‘I love deadlines. I like the whooshing noise they make as they go by.’ If you’re going to leave things until the last minute, this can happen. It’s part of the excitement. Those of you who follow my personal account will occasionally see a photograph on Instagram with 5 minutes to go before a writing competition closes.

A deadline fuels my work. It creates a pressure that I struggle to manufacture myself. When there’s an external deadline, it counts. I know nothing happens if I set a deadline myself. There are no consequences, but when I entered a writing competition with only the first 5,000 words and was long listed, I wrote another 15,000 words in two days. I had no choice. I didn’t eat properly, lost a lot of sleep and by day three had visual distortions from eyestrain, so whilst I wouldn’t repeat the process in a hurry, that intense pressure left me with a good chunk of novel. It propelled my entire project forward.

As Nolan Bushnell says, ‘The ultimate inspiration is the deadline.’ It gives your writing journey a focus. For years I have used writing competitions to accelerate the progress I make on a novel. I refine the opening. Think about the reader. I write a synopsis that later serves as my North Star. Even when I don’t list, there is no part of this process that is wasted.

One of our own readers, author of ‘The Revels’ Stacey Thomas, encourages you to be brave because before being published she entered many competitions and ended up winning the ones she never thought she’d have a chance at. Whilst Venetia Constantine, another one of our fabulous readers and author of ‘The Last Starborn Seer’, entered many writing competitions and would encourage writers to use them to grow in confidence and nurture their talent. Finally, A. Y. Chao, #1 Sunday Times Bestselling author and reader for Ascent Novel Prize would like to remind you that there is no right way to write. So, if you’re not a last-minute addict like me, the most important thing is getting down your story in a way that works for you.

Stacey Thomas, author of 'The Revels' and reader for Ascent Novel Prize.

All that’s left for me to say is that Ascent Novel Prize is a dream come true. As a writer, I’d seen the good, the bad and the ugly with regards to writing competitions. I had a clear vision for what I needed as a writer, and I put as many of them as possible into this prize. What I didn’t have was the industry knowledge, which is why I sourced the best in the business. Liza DeBlock honed her skills selling international rights for major Sunday Times and New York Times authors such as Richard Osman, Claire Douglas, Abigail Dean and Saara El-Arifi. She is seeking writers who are ready to share their stories to a global audience but acknowledge that sharing your writing is slightly nerve-wracking. Delighted to be part of Ascent Novel Prize, Liza states: ‘I am delighted to be part of this prize and honoured to be one of the first people to experience your story. I love finding authors who have something beautiful to say, and that starts with trusting me to read your work.’

Literary agent, Liza DeBlock and judge for Ascent Novel Prize.

Aje Roberts, our other judge, is a senior commissioning editor at Tor. She has worked with some incredible authors, including R. F. Kuang, Rebecca Ross and Chioma Okereke. She is looking forward to reading diverse novels that pull her in. Her best advice for writers feeling nervous about entering writing competitions is to not stand in your way. Your writing is meaningful, worthy and deserves to be seen.

To those who have already entered, thank you for trusting us with your words. Our reading team consists of bestselling authors from a range of genres, and they’re waiting to read your work. There are three days left before Ascent Novel Prize closes for judging. If you haven’t entered already, now’s your chance to shine!  

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How to win a writing competition

Top tips from founder and competition addict, Hayley King.

Whilst there is no magic spell I can offer, below are actionable steps that will increase your likelihood of listing in any writing competition.

1. Research the prize.

   
   

I had a novel that shortlisted with Hachette UK and, feeling very pleased, I then expected it to do well in another, much smaller comp. When up against numbers for a regional competition, I felt confident in my chances. But, you guessed it, for that smaller competition, I didn’t list at all. As every writer is inclined to do, I decided my work and abilities had taken a sharp decline. After an hour of self-indulgent moping (which we’re all entitled to after a writerly disappointment!) I realised the words entered were the same. Like a reversal of a nasty breakup: it wasn’t me, it was them.

On closer inspection, a thriller writer judged this smaller writing competition. Previous winners were mostly writers of crime. And whilst this competition wasn’t advertised as such, if I had done my research, on both the prize and its judges, I would have seen that my novel wasn’t a good match.

You should never write to please the judges or readers of a prize. They are looking for your genuine voice and unique story, but a little research can help you enter the competitions that align with you and your words.

2. Enter many

   
   

Coming from a single-parent family, where the electricity could run out at any moment, I appreciate that this will be limited to finances. If you have any financial barriers to entering writing competitions, please reach out to the contest and explain your circumstances. You are not required to give your life story, but simply state the cost is a barrier to entry. Most reputable writing competitions have a number of sponsored places, including Ascent Novel Prize.

Finances aside, the more writing competitions you enter, the more your chances of listing increase. Once you have a novel that works, much of what follows is about increasing your chances of being seen, whether that be by agents, editors or future readers. To find great writing competitions, I recommend the wonderful website: newwriters.org.uk which lists opportunities in date order - ensuring you never miss one!

The first writing competition I entered was like taking a huge leap of faith and it is easy to forget the bravery needed to put your work out into the world for the first time. But when you’ve crossed that barrier, keep doing it! Share your work more widely, with beta readers and trusted friends. Enter competitions that suit the story you’re writing. When I shortlisted with Stockholm Writers Prize, I’d completely forgotten I’d entered. When you send your work out widely, the stakes are less, because you’ve still got other opportunities on the go.

3. How your extract starts and ends matters

   
   

Many writers strive for an attention-grabbing opening line, but it is the whole extract that counts. Every sentence must propel your reader forward. You must – as literary agent CeCe Lyra states – sprinkle curiosity seeds throughout your work. Look at the length of extract required and consider how your piece ends. You want to leave readers and judges wanting more. Don’t be afraid to cut from your work to end at a great place. When word count isn’t as much of a concern, you can always add these lines back in. At Ascent Novel Prize, we would never disqualify a reader for something like word count as we want writers to end the extract where they think is best. But check all competition rules carefully as not all writing competition are run this way.

4. Common pitfalls

   
   

A simple internet search will warn you of the pitfalls of opening a novel. These include starting with a character waking up, describing the weather or a dump of information. However, I recently saw an agent complain about the number of fantasy novels she receives that have a protagonist whose name begins with an A. (Yes, I have written a fantasy novel with a protagonist called Adalynn). Consider the other over-used tropes or features that may be contained within your work. Is your pitch unique? Is your prose free of clichés? In a world where AI can provide a regurgitated story, what makes your story unique is more important than ever.

Another common pitfall is not following the submission guidelines. Ascent Novel Prize would never disqualify someone for using the wrong font but in a highly competitive world, don’t let your writing be noticed for the wrong reasons. (Although nearly all submissions this year follow our formatting rules, so this advice is not for you clever lot!) 

5.   The magic of a beta read

Working on the same novel can make you word blind and whilst letting it rest and coming back to it with fresh eyes can work wonders, there is nothing like the feedback from a trusted beta reader. They will see things you would never think of. I once had a description of a pigeon flying at night – apparently, they don’t fly at night. I once had a character dominate a scene when they weren’t in the rest of the book. My protagonist started with a coat on, and now she’s adjusting the straps of her dress. The list of errors went on! Luckily, writers are the loveliest people in the world and if you offer to return the favour, it is easy to find beta readers online or through writing courses.

I found my tribe on Instagram, and we first bonded over books we enjoyed reading. For me, it’s essential that anyone offering feedback on my work enjoys reading. Consider what skills you’re looking for in a reader and begin your search! The Shit No One Tells You About Writing offers a beta-read match up a couple of times a year. I would advise giving your work to more than one writer, so that you can identify common errors and perhaps feedback that is closer to personal preference. But remember, you are the sole creator of your work, and you should only incorporate things that feel right for you and your story.

6. Compare your work to a published novel

Everyone is at a different point in their writing journey, but I believe all we need to do as writers is keep moving forward. Keep studying the craft and reading others. If your book were alongside other published work, would it compete? The most successful writers are the ones who identify a weakness and work hard to overcome it. For me, it’s my visual description when I open scenes. So, this is what I study when I read and one of my many rounds of edits is dedicated to this aspect of my writing. You can ask for no greater gift than knowing how to improve your story.

7. Celebrate the wins

   
   

Every listing counts, whether you’re in the top 100 or have an honourable mention. Enjoy the victories when they come because sometimes, they seem few and far between. To enter your work to be judged and scored takes a huge amount of bravery. But you’re in the game and one step closer to holding a published novel in your hands. Keep going, and even if you don’t list at first, know that every word you write counts, because someone out there is waiting to read your story, so you can’t stop now. You’re so close to making your dream come true! 

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