neodoering
Minstrel
Every year I read 4 or 5 "Best of" anthologies of speculative fiction short stories, and last year I noticed that several writers had won regional writing contests and used that credential as a means to breaking into the pros. In particular I saw a woman had won the New Mexico Book Awards with a work of speculative fiction, and another writer won the San Diego Book Awards. These are both regional contests, with limited numbers of writers entering the contests and reasonable entry fees. A win sends the message that you are a pro-quality writer who should be taken seriously by the publishing professionals.
Anyone else noticed this?
Anyone else noticed this?