by Beth K. Vogt, @bethvogt

I still remember entering my first writing contest. Months later, I realized I wasn’t one of the oh-so-lucky ones who received the “You’re a finalist” call. 

Silly me. I was so new at the game, as the finalist list was published online and my name wasn’t on the list, I didn’t even realize those calls went out weeks earlier.

I sat in the school pick up line and thought, “Yay for all the finalists!” – some were my friends – and then I thought, “Sad sigh for me.”

Since then, I’ve entered more contests. I’ve had both Yay moments and Sad Sigh moments. Want to know what I’ve learned through the years? 

You gotta hold steady whether you final or don’t final in a contest. Whether you win or don’t win.

Writing contests are just part of the writing life. To be honest, they are an optional part of the writing life. To be a writer, you have to do one thing: write.

Dictionary.com defines a writer as “a person who is engaged in writing books, articles, stories, etc., especially as an occupation or profession” as well as “a person who commits their thoughts, ideas, etc., to writing.” 

No mention of entering writing contests in that definition, correct?

There are writers who opt out of contests all together and writers who enter every contest imaginable. Contest feedback is beneficial – so long as we take it with a proverbial grain of salt and realize that it is subjective. What do I mean by subjective? Just this: it’s an individual’s evaluation of your writing based on their opinion, skill set –think reader versus professional – and the time/attention put into reading your contest entry. 

Back to my original point: We have to hold steady whether we final or don’t final in a contest. Whether we win or don’t win.

Contests come and go. You lose? You have to work through any disappointment and discouragement. The goal? To get back to the business of writing. You win? The certificate or trophy looks great in your office, but you don’t sit and stare at it all day. The goal is the same: to get back to the business of writing.

You’re a writer, my friend. Now go write.

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Dedicated to the One I Love

Beloved romance novelist Kylie Franklin walked away from her pen-name career as bestselling and award-winning Veronica Hollins the day her husband died. Her loyal readers are eager for the final book in her sensational series. But Kylie’s given up on love, both fictional and in real life. Behind her back, Kylie’s agent contrives a way to get her writing again.

Joe Edwards has made a name for himself with his popular military suspense novels under the pen name Tate Merrick. Yet he can’t quite break onto the bestseller list. What his books need, his publisher suggests, is some romance. Joe flat refuses. However, his publisher is determined and hires Veronica Hollins to save the day—and his career.

Veronica and Tate quickly realize they’re Kylie and Joe, good friends who connected online via a popular word game and their mutual love of trivia. Surely they can wrangle their alter egos into this literary collaboration. But as the deadline looms, their differences threaten the romance developing off the page.

Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” She’s authored 15 novels and novellas, both contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Beth is a Christy Award winner, an ACFW Carol Award winner, and a  RITA® finalist. Her newest contemporary romance novel, Dedicated to the One I Love, releases June 20, 2023. Her novel Things I Never Told You, book one in her Thatcher Sisters Series by Tyndale House Publishers, won the 2019 AWSA Golden Scroll Award for Contemporary Novel of the Year. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Learn How to Write a Novel and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people. Connect with Beth at bethvogt.com.