Shannon here: Ellen E. Withers shares insight into her latest nonfiction title, Magic Words: How to Enchant Judges and Conjure Contest Wins. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing. Giveaway specifics: There are two questions, one for readers, and one for writers. The winner will get a print copy of their choice of either book one or two of Ellen’s Show Me Mystery series Magic Words. Deadline: Oct 5th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Ellen:
All readers, and most writers, understand a well-written story is magical. If a writer has the proper skills, hones them to perfection, and then sprinkles just a little fairy dust over the whole concoction, readers are transported into another world. A world where time often disappears and new horizons open before them.
I wrote Magic Words to share what I’ve learned on my long and winding path to publication. There are many writing technique books on the market. It’s my hope this book encapsulates multiple tips that help writers shorten their journeys to contest wins and publication. God helped me along my journey. In His honor, I want to help other writers.
Through mastering skills associated with the craft of writing and contest entry and preparation, writers will be on their way to realizing their dreams. In this article, I’ll focus on how entering contests helped me to develop my writing skills and led to the publication of my mystery series. The skills learned through contests can help you accomplish your dreams, too.
There are many reasons for writers of all skill levels to take part in writing contests. Beginning writers
need the validation contests give their work. You know you’re getting somewhere when you go from no awards to your first Third Honorable Mention. Experienced writers need contests to stretch and grow, branching out from their comfortable writing genre from time to time. Creative contests can force experienced writers to stretch the boundaries of their creative mind. A fantastic contest description can provide that incentive—and they might even enjoy the process.
Short fiction writing contests are the reason I’m now a published novelist. By attending conferences, entering contests, and working my way to awards, I improved my skills. But, because editors and agents also attend these conferences, having them hear my name called for winning or placing in contests helped them recognize my abilities. Publishers know repeated wins or placements in contests mean you’ve learned the craft and are mastering the art of storytelling.
Contests teach writers to respect word limits and develop a thick skin regarding reviews and suggestions to improve your writing. This serves as practice for being coachable by agents and publishers, to conform to suggestions by experts, and to add creative twists to their work.
Short fiction contests help writers learn to pack a punch in a limited number of words. I am a wordy first-draft writer. Because I know that, I initially write my stories without regard to a word limit.
When complete my first draft, I revise for setting, characterization, and plot, still without regard to word count. Then I revise for the five senses. Do I have smells woven into the tale? Sights described? Sounds that add dimension and depth? Touch and taste by the characters? Will the readers feel the emotions in the story (fear, love, attachment, revulsion)?
Once I’ve told the story I need to tell, that’s when I turn my attention to the word count. If it’s too long to enter the contest I’ve chosen, I save a digital copy of the long version to put away for possible later use. Then I start chopping away at the words.
Here’s one secret for you: I can’t eliminate all my extra words at once. For me, word reduction works best by removing approximately one hundred words every time I read through it. By the time I’ve gone through it five or six times—that’s a minimum—and lost five to six hundred words, I’m always pleasantly surprised by how much the trimming has improved the story.
Take a critical look at sentences and phrasing. During my first pass at word reduction, I choose stronger language. Sometimes, an entire phrase can be replaced with one fantastic word.
My last hint about contests: Find publications featuring contest winners and study them. How did they add a twist to the end? Study their dialogue techniques. Consider how they plotted the story. Decide what skills you admired and try to incorporate those skills into your work.
Keep writing and studying the craft. Your efforts will pay dividends in the future.
Question for Readers: What are some of your favorite things about the authors you enjoy? Such as, is it their plotting? (keeping you guessing or interested) Or their word use? (describing scenes and places that make you feel as if you’re there with them) Their skills in bringing characters to life? (the characters could be your friends or enemies)
Question for Writers: Do you currently enter writing contests? Why or why not?
About Ellen: Ellen Withers is a multiple award-winning fiction writer, and freelance writer and retired insurance fraud investigator. Her mystery dual-time series, Show Me Mysteries, published by Scrivenings Press, is set in picturesque Mexico, Missouri.
Show Me Betrayal, the first book of the series, was a dual finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writer’s 2024 Carol Awards in the Debut Novel and Mystery/Suspense/Thriller categories. Show Me Deceit was published in May 2024 to rave reviews. The third book in the series, Show Me Skullduggery, will be out May of 2025.
Ellen was one of three contributors to a Christmas novella collection titled A Gift for All Time, released in 2023 by Scrivenings Press.
Magic Words: Enchant Judges & Conjure Contest Wins for Novels, Short Fiction and Nonfiction is scheduled for publication by Scrivenings Press in October 2024.
Learn more & connect:
Ellen’s Website Ellen’s Facebook Ellen’s Instagram
Ellen’s Goodreads Ellen’s Bookbub
About the book – Magic Words:How to Enchant Judges and Conjure Contest Wins:
Transform your book, short fiction, or nonfiction work into a prize-worthy contest winner with Magic Words: How to Enchant Judges and Conjure Contest Wins.
Magic Words provides information every writer needs to craft prizewinning contest entries. It disseminates techniques judges want to see in contest submissions as well as contest-winning tips and opinions from multiple contest judges.
Written by a prize-winning author, who has judged multitudes of writing contests, Magic Words has the answers. Packed with suggestions from twelve contest judges, this guide shares what you need to win. When you apply the skills to your contest entries, you work will bewitch judges and conjure enchanting contest winners.
Scrivenings Press will publish Magic Words: How to Enchant Judges and Conjure Contest Wins October 22, 2024. A free preview of the first two chapters of the book will be available October 19, 2024: Magic Words preview
Worried you won’t win? Interested in Ellen’s other titles? Get your copy/copies now!
Come back Oct 1st for Heather Greer!
Thank you for having me, Shannon!
The thing that draws me into loving a book is characters that are likable with all their quirks. I also love a great setting that draws me in and makes me feel like I am there with the main character.
I think it’s the combination of all of these: the plotting, word usage, the ability to weave the words together, not too descriptive but just enough, likable and relatable characters, and twists in the story that keep you intrigued!
I have a winner! Joan Kurth won the drawing. I appreciate Ellen for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.
Congratulations, Joan!