500 words on why you want to win Flash Fiction Competitions
Flash fiction competitions are good for two things.
· Forcing you to finish and polish your work.
· Challenging yourself to pit your skills against other writers to see if you can win.
Here's how they can shape up into a more confident writer:
Forcing you to finish and polish your work:
The evils of procrastination:
Competitions have a way of turning procrastination into a distant memory. The looming deadline acts as a whip, cracking the inertia, and transforming 'I'll do it later' into 'It's now or never.' This urgency banishes the comfort of procrastination and thrusts you into a realm of relentless productivity.
Good writing deserves to break free from your notebook:
Your stories aren't meant to be caged within the pages of your notebook. Competitions provide a stage, a reason for these narratives to evolve from private musings to public artworks. They deserve an audience, and competitions are the loudspeakers broadcasting your talent to the world.
Rewriting and polishing your flash fiction is the best part of writing:
The art of rewriting and polishing isn't just a chore; it's where the magic happens. It's the process of sculpting your raw thoughts into a masterpiece. Each revision is a stroke of the brush, turning strokes into pictures, making your flash fiction shine.
Challenging yourself to pit your skills against other writers to see if you can win:
The competition mindset means you know you cannot settle for second best –
It has to be perfect:
When you're up against others, mediocrity isn't an option. The competition mindset instils a drive for perfection, pushing you to refine and enhance your work until it's the best it can be.
Learn to love your deadline, it's great motivation:
Deadlines aren't just about stress; they're about structure and motivation. They give you a finish line, a tangible goal to work towards, making every second count and infusing your writing sessions with purpose and urgency.
The satisfaction of finishing:
Once you have put the work in, you will get such an amazing sense of satisfaction, it beats all other pleasures: The joy of hitting that submit button after hours of arduous work is incomparable. It's a cocktail of relief, pride, and a unique euphoria that eclipses the fleeting pleasures of coffee, chocolate, or even wine. This satisfaction is a testament to your dedication and a reward that fuels your next venture.
It's important to get your writing 'out there' and also to believe in yourself.
Finally, flash fiction competitions are more than just contests; they're platforms for self-expression and self-belief. They force you to take the plunge, to move beyond the safety of anonymity. Putting your work 'out there' is an act of bravery and faith in your own voice. It's an essential step in your journey as a writer, affirming that your stories are worth telling and your voice is worth hearing. And as you believe in yourself, so will others. Each entry, each competition, is a step towards more significant opportunities, connections, and the thrilling realization that your writing is not just a personal solace but a gift to readers everywhere.
Sally Dickson
Judge: Farnham Flash Fiction Competition
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