Writing Contests: Feedback and Validation . . . And a Plug for OWFI and KCWG

I wasn’t able to go to the Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc. (OWFI) writing conference earlier this month.  I’ve been several times in prior years, and I always get something out of it. (See here and here for earlier posts about OWFI conferences.)

But I did submit several pieces to the OWFI contest this year. Writing contests are a good way for authors to get feedback on their writing, even if they don’t win anything. The OWFI contest is good value for the money. For $30.00 (plus the annual membership fee), writers can submit their work in any or all of the thirty-four contest categories. Many contests are $10.00 or more per entry.

This year, I submitted in eight categories. Some years, I’ve submitted in more; other years in fewer. I thought I was doing pretty well to manage something for eight categories this year, given that I’m writing a new novel (though that was one of my submissions) and I’m building a new house and moving out of our existing home after thirty-five years.

I’ve learned from experience that OWFI is one of the better contests for getting feedback. So far, I have received feedback on seven of the pieces I submitted, and most of the comments are helpful for improving my work.

Icing on the cake was that I won a prize this year for one of the pieces I submitted! My poem, “Sacrament,” won first place in the Poetry, Unrhymed-Short category. There were sixty-eight entries in this category, so the competition was high and I was pleased to win.

Other winners in this year’s OWFI contest from the Kansas City Writers Group included:

• Sally Jadlow, Second Place for “How to Survive the Death of a Spouse” in the Technical and/or How-To Article category
• Thomas F. Schultz, Second Place for “Plagues and Princes: The One True Prince” in the Historical Novel category
• Co Bauman, an Honorable Mention for her poem, “Brushing off the Sand, in the Poetry, Unrhymed-Long category

Through my membership in Kansas City Writers Group, I’ve learned there are many great writers in our community.

I discovered the Kansas City Writers Group in early 2008, after I had been writing for about a year. I don’t attend their sessions very often anymore, because their timing conflicts with another commitment I have. But every time I go, I come away delighted by the diversity and professionalism of writers in the group. We are fortunate to have the Kansas City Writers Group as a source for inspiration, education, and community.

Writers, what is your best source of inspiration and community?