What Is A Writing Competition?

It’s a heat, not a minimum standard threshold

Writing competitions have more in common with Olympic heats than you might think. © Simon Whaley

“You should enter that to a short story competition,” I advised.

Her eyes widened with horror as she leaned back in the chair opposite me. “But I can’t… I’m not… good enough.”

I shook my head. “Stop it. It’s the judge’s job to judge your entry, not yours. You’re the writer. Your role…