Round One: NYC Midnight Contest
I’ve never been to NYC but I just took first place for my heat in the NYC Midnight Short Story Challenge 2011. I was drawn to this contest because:
1.) You are given a topic, a character, genre and short time to write an appropriate short story. I thrive under pressure and with ready-made assignments.
2.) You get feedback on your story–win or lose–from both peers and the judges. Feedback is priceless.
3.) If you beat out the other 625 authors and win first prize, you win $1,500.
The contest runs in three segments. The first round (where I just placed) allowed us one week to construct a 2,500 word story using the three prompts. My assignment was to write a historical fiction piece about a riot and a philander. The week of writing fell in the middle of an emergency trip to Michigan so I was pleased to just finish. But after researching an obscure riot in Singapore in 1950, I fell in love with Nadra’s story. My piece, titled “Baggage Claim”, became one of my favorites and will even be performed at this month’s SWAN Day presentation.
The next round starts tonight at midnight and requires 1,500 words in three days about a new topic, character and genre. I’m praying for any genre other than political satire!
This contest’s biggest advantage is the timed incentive to write, even out of your comfort zone. And the feedback–both peer and professional–is a big bonus.
What writing contests do you enjoy and why?