Lost that Writing Contest? Take Advantage of it.
I submitted the best story I've ever written to a contest,
but it didn't even win an honorable mention! I guess I'm not as
good a writer as I thought I was, I might as well quit right
now.
The hurt of rejection goes deep into the heart of any writer,
but new, inexperienced writers don't know how to get up, grab a
new pen and keep writing. It doesn't help to encourage them by
saying simply, "Keep writing!", or "It happens to everyone." It
just doesn't work that way. They will have to cry and go through
a time of mourning their self-confidence. It's almost a
requirement - a rite of passage on the journey to
publish-dom.
They don't know that this hurt will eventually come out through
strong, intense drama and a better knowledge of showing real
emotion.
They don't know this low point will eventually prop them up and
make them more determined to write, if for no other reason than
to prove they can.
They don't know this hurt could be the catalyst to success.
They don't know it will cause them to become a better writer.
But it will.
Losing a contest or being rejected by a publisher, doesn't
necessarily mean your writing is weak. It means the judges saw
something special in the winning piece. It may have simply been
the tone or the topic - or the mood of the judge. Or the cover
letter, or the full moon, etc. etc. etc. Who knows why one wins
over another?
Read the winning entries and try to see what the judges saw in
them. If your work is honestly as good as the winning entries,
submit it again somewhere else and hope for a judge with the
smarts to recognize good writing! Remember though, there are
lots of good writers competing for the top spots and the final
decision will depend on that 'special something' one write has
over another. Be sure your piece has breath and is singing!
Bring it to life!
Take advantage of your distressed state by continuing to write.
Your mood will affect the emotion, and the new story you write,
if drawn from your soul, will be powerful. Your mood will show
in the characters actions and reactions, and in their dialogue.
Later, when you feel better, you'll look back on this particular
story and wonder how you ever attained that strong voice. Then,
you'll remember and wish it didn't have to hurt so much to
become successful.