Are writing contests viable money-makers for freelancers looking for a new way to earn? There seem to be a ton of them out there! Doesn’t it stand to reason that someone’s got to win them? Is competition a way to get more money for writing?
Writing Contests: Pros
Why should freelancers participate in writing contests? Generally, such competitions offer two things that all writers, freelance or otherwise, really want: money and exposure. Winners stand to get the best of both, and sometimes there are even second- and third-place prizes as well as honorable mentions. This can be a heady draw for any writer who wants to make money and get their name out there.
Winning a writing contest also offers a certain amount of cachet and esteem to any writer. After all, isn’t the Pulitzer just another sort of writing contest, too? Having a piece that one may call award-winning is so compelling, competition suddenly seems like a great idea.
Writing Contests: Cons
Writing contests sound great for freelancers? It’s possible to make money, gain exposure, get esteem – it’s all there! So, is there any reason that freelance writers shouldn’t enter these exciting competitions that have so much to offer?
If the goal is making money, there’s one really great reason to shy away from this potential source of income: lots of writing contests require entry fees. These fees are put in place for a variety of reasons, all of them quite good, but the end result is the same: the writer has to pay out in order to enter the competition. When the goal is making money, spending is the absolutely wrong route to take.
Making Money With Freelance Writing
There are other, better ways to go about making money with freelance writing - means which don’t include paying entry fees. Writing contests are all well and good, especially when they’re free, but they aren’t likely to bring in a source of steady income. These competitions can provide some exposure and that’s to be greatly desired, but it’s better to stay away from writing contests unless they’re free to enter.
Making money with freelance writing is possible in many other ways. Search for online job boards offering writing opportunities, magazines seeking submissions and other freelance possibilities to find paying gigs. Even creating a blog can bring in a new source of writing revenue, and provide exposure to boots. Are writing contests worth it? In most cases, they’re more for fun than income and exposure, but that doesn’t mean they should be avoided completely.
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