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LIFE LESSONS — SEPTEMBER 24 WRITING PROMPT
You Can’t Win if You Don’t Enter
But someone will ask you to be a judge
I didn’t enter any writing contests this year. I planned to. Time just got away from me. So instead, I judged two.
I won’t publicly say which two. I will say that it was fun and gave me a chance to see what other writers submit to contests. If you’re going to be a judge — of anything, but especially a writing contest — be sure that it’s a category that you’re interested in and have some expertise in. Then make sure your anonymity is protected unto death.
Contest judges and acquisitions editors should not have to enter the witness protection program. But people can get very emotional about their submissions, rejections, and losses. We all can, from time to time. I’ve never felt that my writing is “my baby.” But we all sweat blood over the page, and rejection or loss is a blow to the ego if we’re fully invested in our work.
Maybe the lesson learned in this isn’t to “write something to submit, so you don’t have to serve as a judge again!” but “everyone who writes should serve as a judge — or an acquisitions editor — and gain insight from the other side of the transom.” It’s eye-opening. And important, I think.
