Does anyone enter competitions?

Is this it?

hcass wrote: »

Do any of the writers on here enter CW competitions?

I am just beginning to get enough confidence to start entering some competitions. It's taken a long long while to even feel like this - don't know how long it will take me to actually write a piece I think is worthy of a competition.

Anyway, was wondering what happens when you don't win. How you feel. Do you let it get you down? Does it stop you from writing for a while?

I have entered a few. No sucess (so far) but it gives you a deadline and something to focus on if, like me, you can usually find something else to do.

Your stuff is certainly good enough hcass. Your 'pencil case' story is a bit short for most competitions but is better than many winners. Don't wait until you have something 'worthy'. Send whatever you have.
It is disappointing not to win and to read the winner and think that yours was at least as good if not better, or to have to admit that yours wasn't as good but your next one might be.
My attitude is that competitions are a bit of a lottery. There can be only one winner so a lot of good entries are bound to lose out. Most cost €10-15 to enter and I look on it as being the same as doing the lotto or putting the money on a horse. You might be lucky but if you don't try you can't win...and as you say winning would be such a boost.

There was a thread on competitions on this forum. If I find it again I'll bump it.

Irish Writers' Centre, Munster Literature Centre and writing.ie all have info on competitions. Writing Magazine is also a very good market for identifying markets for your writing, as well as competitions.