I’m often asked to judge competitions so if you’ve just discovered that I’m judging a competition that you’re inclined to enter, and you just stumbled across this page, then congratulations. I’m now going to give you some information that those who couldn’t be bothered to do a bit of research on me, won’t find out.
- I don’t do ‘Science Fiction or Fantasy’ stuff. It just doesn’t work for me. It doesn’t float my boat, spaceship, or whatever craft it is supposed to float. Clearly I’m not going to judge a competition with a Fantasy/Science Fiction theme, but what I am saying is that if I’m judging a competition and the theme is open, don;t send your SciFi/Fantasy story because it won’t get anywhere with me.
- Make me laugh. When I’ve judged some competitions, all i seem to read are entries obsessed with death. I don’t know why we seem hung up on it, but we are - and I know we are because I’ve written stories on the subject. But put yourself in my shoes - faced with several hundred short stories to read and 99% are about death, believe me when I say that the funny ones really stand out.
- Follow the rules. If they state that work must be submitted on white paper, then send it in on white paper. And with black ink too. Black ink on white paper offers the highest contrast, which means it’s easy to read. It’s nice to have stuff that’s easy to read when you have hundreds of thousands of words to read. Send your work on brightly coloured paper instead and if it breaks the rules it will be disqualified. Remember, I’m only interested in the quality of your writing, not the contents of your stationery cupboard at home (or at work). Printing your work out on different quality paper does not affect the quality of your writing!
- Grip me from the start. Grab me by the first sentence and keep me gripped right through to the end. Remember, I could have several hundred of these to read, you need yours to really stand out in order for me to remember it (for the right reasons).
- Dialogue adds life and interest. Whether it’s a short story competition or an article competition, use dialogue.
- If entering a short story competition, don’t send in a rejected women’s magazine short story. I can spot them a mile off and if it didn’t work with them, why will it work for me?
Good luck. I hope you win!
2010 Competitions
The Flash 500 competition.
2009 Competitions
The Short Story category of the Age Concern Shropshire Telford & Wrekin Literary Competition
The Article category of the National Association of Writers’ Groups annual competition.
Previous Competitions Judged
- The Article category of the National Association of Writers’ Groups annual competition
- Article/Essay category of The New Writer Awards
- The Grace Dieu Writers Circle Short Story competition
- Writelink ‘ After the Rain’ short story competition.
- Doris Gooderson Short Story competition (Assisted judging process)
- The Wellington Literary Festival Short Story competition (co-judged for 5 years)