Esther Chilton

Entering a writing competition? Here are a few tips to ensure your entry is on the shortlist:

• A judge wants to read something unexpected, exciting and compelling so think outside the box.
• Make sure your story isn’t over the word count. Your story may only have gone over the limit by five words, but if all the other entrants have stuck to the limit, why should you be allowed extra words?
• Checking your work through is vital. If a competition judge has to decide between two entries, both with brilliant storylines, but one with mistakes and the other without, the prize is likely to go to the one with no mistakes.
• If you send an entry in with the typing slanting upwards, splodges of ink dotted over the crumpled pages and faded words here and there, you’re obviously not concerned about your sloppy presentation. The same goes for an e-mail entry. If your story has missing text, different fonts, a mixture of block and indented paragraphing etc., the judge will be put off your story straight away.
• Post or e-mail your story in plenty of time before the closing date. An entry sent in after the competition has closed will be disqualified.