The minute I sign up for a writing contest, I turn on “Eye of the Tiger” as I sit down to pound out my first draft. This is it, I tell myself. This will be the story that finally wins. A few finger exercises and I am ready to write the story to end all stories. I just need to focus on winning, right?
But what if nothing comes? Or worse, a story pours out and it’s terrible? What if I don’t win? How can I develop a winning mindset without reading an entire shelf of self-help books and further distracting myself?
3 Keys to a Winning Mindset
I’ve entered and lost more writing contests than I can count. Why keep entering? A few reasons: to challenge myself, to practice writing on deadline, to grow, and to have fun.
But for many people, writing contests are emotional roller coasters of adrenaline-fueled drafting followed by soul-crushing defeat. If I’ve described your experience, don’t worry, you aren’t alone.
How can you develop a winning mindset that evens out the highs and lows of the writing and submission process? Here are three mindset shifts to help:
1. Don’t commit to win. Commit to grow.
This sounds counterintuitive. Of course you want to win. Unfortunately, it isn’t like a sporting event where you can see the score as you go and adjust to do more.
You cannot control how your story will resonate with the judges. You can only tell the best story you are capable of telling, and if you commit to grow, the story will be better than your last. Focus on the things you can control.
Over time, growing into the writer you want to be is far more important than a short-term win.
2. Don’t expect perfection. Expect to revise and improve.
The first few times I submitted stories for critique, I didn’t expect to change much. A comma here, a phrase there. After all, I had already written it the way I wanted. What more could I do? Turns out, my first drafts are never as clear as I think they are.
I remember the first time an editor said, “Consider pulling this apart and restructuring, beginning with [incident I had in the middle].” I panicked. But when I took a deep breath and tried it? The story became far stronger than I could have imagined.
When others read your story, ask them to tell it back to you, and then listen. Sometimes their retelling reveals the holes or questions that will make or break your story.
3. Don’t view submission as the end of the journey. View it as a quick pit stop.
The first few writing contests I entered, I poured time and energy into my submission, and once I hit that “submit” button, I often didn’t write the rest of the week (or month).
Everything changed when I stopped writing from contest to contest or submission to submission, and I began writing daily. Now, I’m working to produce one small story at a time that eventually becomes a satisfying body of work and resonates with readers. As soon as you hit submit, start a new story.
Be Bold and Enter a Writing Contest
Writing contests are a terrific way to practice writing with a set audience and purpose in mind. Use these tips to help you navigate your next submission, and to invest in long-term growth as a writer.
What part of your current mindset is holding you back? How can you change it? Let me know in the comments.
PRACTICE
Your mindset affects everything, whether you're entering a writing contest or shopping at the grocery store. Take fifteen minutes to write a scene where two characters with radically different mindsets interact about the same event. Some sample events:
Two hikers find a dead coyote (or other animal) on the trail.
A mother (or father) and child see a box of cereal at the grocery store.
Two sisters prepare for a hurricane.
When you're done, share your writing practice in the Pro Practice Workshop, and don't forget to leave feedback for your fellow writers!
Debra screamed, the high pitched tones of a woman faced with a mass murderer. Except it wasn’t.
“It’s just a spider, Deb,” I laughed.
“Kill it, kill it!” She squealed.
I rolled my eyes at her, and bent to scoop the little creature into the safety of my palm. “Look, he won’t hurt you.”
“Ugh, Phil, they’re disgusting!” She appeared a little braver now the arachnid was locked in my grasp. “If you don’t kill it, it’ll just come back in. I don’t want them in my house!”
“I’m not killing it,” I scoffed. “They eat insects.”
“And lay eggs in your mouth while you’re sleeping!”
I laughed again, proceeding to walk to the back door so I could let it loose in the garden’s shrubbery.
“Please, Phil!” She was on the verge of tears, hysterical in her fear.
“Come on, really?” I sighed. “It’s more scared of you, y’know.”
“Don’t give me that crap. Please, please, just kill it.”
I can’t believe we were having this discussion. “I’ll put it in next door’s garden, then.”
She actually glared at me. “I’d rather you left it in the park.”
That was two blocks away! I eyed the little guy in my hand, Debra taking a yelping leap back as a leg popped free. Spiders were fascinating creatures. The thought of walking two blocks to save one’s life felt a little drastic, but I wouldn’t give in so easily to Debra’s childish fear.
Liz!
The opening lines made me laugh out loud. Loved this exploration of two perspectives. Thanks for sharing it!
I’m glad it made you laugh! Objective achieved, thank you, Sue!
I have a friend who would identify with Deb’s fear of spiders, and I’m right on her heels. I enjoyed your story. Your opening lines and the perspectives of the two people as the story unfolded made me smile. Nice job.
In your story, my grown son is Debra so I get it! It’s like he would burn the house down to rid the house of one cute bug!! Love it.
Stories are always playing in my head, fed by daily interactions. I’ve just signed up for this writing contest thinking it would be easy to tell the stories that I see, but it’s like talking a different language. A picture may say 1000 words, but when you are the painter, how do you come up with the words when it’s an emotive flow that puts the color on canvas.
It helps me to focus on getting SOME words down (even when my inner editor is saying, “Nope, that’s not quite right) instead of expecting the perfect words to come. We can revise one we have a draft down. Cheering you on!
Thanks Sue!!
This is what I put together based on the assignment today:
They both looked at each other, their gazes getting firmer. Who was right?
They both heard the Teacher. How could they have been in the same room at the same time and had such completely different interpretations of what He had said.
Mary had spent time alone with Him. He seemed to understand her in ways no one else did. She could be herself. She could be honest, and he always responded with love and acceptance. Even when she went through those times of difficulty, heart break, loss and depression. He never told her she was wrong for feeling what she did. He listened. He was such a great listener. He showed her true compassion and how to love.
Of course the Teacher spent much time with Peter as well. They would go fishing and tell stories. Often they sat in silence and Peter enjoyed the peace he felt just being in the Teacher’s presence. He didn’t have to prove himself to anyone, the Teacher just accepted him. Back home the guys were always putting him down, out smarting him and impressing the ladies. He felt foolish, but not around the Teacher. He could be himself. The Teacher believed in Him and taught him things. He was patient with Peter and would tell him stories so Peter would understand. Peter felt a love, he didn’t even have with his own family.
When the Teacher said to “love everyone for we are one,” why did it make complete sense at the time, but now Mary and Peter were at a stand off.
“Claudia is a friend of the Teacher’s and He taught us to love, not judge,” Mary stated.
“How could you be so blind?! Claudia is a dude dressed up as a girl. There is no way the Teacher would allow a fraud to be a follower of His and if he wouldn’t be a follower, then we shouldn’t say it’s OK,” Peter responded.
“Who are we to judge?” Mary asked.
Peter was getting furious. How could this woman mix up the Teacher’s message and twist it about like this? “Who are we to judge?!” His anger was getting the better of him. “We were with him almost every day! He taught us everything He knew! If anyone is to know Him and understand how we are to love, it would be US! We are to teach right and wrong and Claudia is a fraud!”
Mary began to weep in her frustration. She bowed her head and closed her eyes and prayed, “Jesus, please help! Hear us and show us how to love the way you want us to love. Claudia is a creature of God’s design. Of God’s image. Our father has a plan for her, just as He has a plan for us. As Claudia even says, ‘God doesn’t make junk and He made me.’ Please soften our hearts so that we can love like You and leave the judging to God. Amen.”
I use different mediums, like a painter. Ink on paper, taking a mindless walk, putting my idea in my head before I sleep to dream on it, and commuting to work I get in the slow lane and think. Just laying in bed letting my mind wander before the hectic schedule of life beats me down, helps. An idea even energizes me, and instead of sleeping those extra ten minutes, I write. I keep a note and pen by my bed. I won’t even drink wine if I am trying to produce. What I do need is a recorder for the car. Just a few thoughts.
I need the “Right Mindset.”
I’ve entered only one contest, just a month or so ago. I have difficulty with getting into contest themes. I get stumped on the fear that I have nothing to write about the topic. I need to practice writing from prompts more to get my brain used to writing on cue. I also need to take a deep breath and write an entry, then submit. Thank you, Sue, for this eye-opening post.
So glad it helped, Billie! Practice definitely helps, but every draft is an opportunity to get better. Thanks for reading!
I have a perfectionist mindset when it comes to writing short stories. I always expect them to be right the first time. And I’m scared that they will not be the best story I write. I’m afraid that after revising, I’ll still lose. It’s why I don’t enter writing contests. I have a good handful of stories where I’ve written the first draft at least, but haven’t written a second. I have a lot of fears holding me back.
I think these points will help counteract the fear I have in my writing. Realizing that the goal of writing to not to win, but to improve. As such, entering a contest does not necessarily mean I reached the finish line. And even then, realizing the need to improve will always be there. Keeping these in mind, I think, will help gain the confidence I need to start submitting my work.
George,
The only one you are competing against is yesterday-you. Thanks for chiming in here with your honesty. I know it will resonate with others who feel the same. Keep growing!
It’s almost painful trying to make a story perfect. Especially when it can never be perfect. Rewrite correct change scrap rethink…..no strategy…..reread…..that’s not what I mean!!! Why do we do this to ourselves? The first draft is easy……it’s spewing words on paper…..then it gets hard…..context, meaning, grammar, vocabulary, blah blah blah…and still we here we are. The hardest thing of all is to share! Do it!
From the enjoyment I’m receiving from this Fall+ Love contest, I must say you have to be ready. Two contests past and I found much difficulty. This time around, submitted story in workshop and my goodness, 5 drafts later still raring to go. Mindset over resistance.
Thanks. I found this article very inspiring.
“It’s coming our way, we have to get out of here. Pauline, pick up the things you need and let’s get a move on”.
Sarah put her hands on her hips, curling her lips toward her sister she said, “Ann if you think I’m not taking my makeup you’re crazy. And I am taking my good shoes too”.
“You can’t do that, we have to limit the things we are taking, there is no space”.
“You’re taking the stupid dog. I don’t care if he is saved. I don’t like him anyway and animals can always find a way to help themselves, I want my makeup”.
“Sarah, you’re talking about a life. I can’t believe you would sacrifice a life over a bunch of garbage that doesn’t make you look any better. You’re a mean spirited person and if I have a choice between you and the dog, guess who wins”. With those harsh words Ann gathered her mala and small note book before picking up Georgie under her arm. With her most important things in her arms she headed to the rescue van just pulling up to the house.
Yelling to Sarah to hurry up made no difference to Sarah’s speed. Finally Sarah showed up carrying three suitcases. The driver told her only the small one, the overnight bag was allowed. The venom flowing from Sarah’s mouth toward the driver caused Ann to hang her head in shame. “Those fucking dogs can get the hell out, I’m taking the things I want, so stuff your rules up your ass, these things are coming with me”.
The people already in the van, started to shout at Sarah, “Hurry up, don’t be so stupid those are only things, get in the van”. Sarah did not listen, she tossed three bags into the van before getting in. The driver looked at Sarah with disgust, “You selfish bitch, you’re risking everyone’s life”, while he started the van heading it toward the concrete school auditorium where everyone was gathering.
Ann was unable to look at Sarah. Shame washed over her wave after wave. “Why was she so angry? why did she think she was so special? Why had she treated their parents so badly?” These questions did little to help Ann calm down, rather they increased the knot in her stomach and the rage in her heart. “This has to stop”, she said to herself as she pulled her mala from around her neck with one arm while holding Gerogie with the other. Taking a deep breath to calm herself she started her favorite mantra.
I enjoyed your story. thank you for sharing