WRITING COMPETITIONS
The way TO WIN
PART TWO
In Part One, experienced writing competition judge Esther Chilton looked at how you can make your entries stand out for the right reasons. In Part Two, she drills down into exactly how to achieve it
Last month, we considered the type of story required to elevate you from the vast pile of entries a judge receives, onto the shortlist and up to the top of the podium. We’re now going to break things down and take elements of a short story, and show you how to ensure each one is spot on.
Title
Does a title matter? Surely it’s the story that’s the important factor? It is, but an eye-catching title instantly hooks the judge’s interest and makes them curious to know more about your tale.
Though, be careful of giving away too much in the title. For example, your story might be about a woman whose every move is being sabotaged. She has no idea who is behind it, but if your title is ‘Sibling Rivalry’, and she only has one sibling, it acts as an immediate signpost.
A bold beginning
As a judge, whenever I settle down to read an entry, I’m looking for a story that immediately hooks my interest, which means you need to impress within the first few paragraphs. Even if the rest of your tale makes a riveting read, if your opening isn’t right, your entry won’t make the shortlist.
Common problems include:
• Too much scene setting. I like to be taken to the scene right at the start, so I can imagine it in my mind, but I need to know there’s going to be an actual story. I’m looking for something to get my teeth into and to make me want to read on.
• A lengthy first paragraph. Don’t make your opening paragraph too long. It’s very off-putting to be faced with a big block of words straight away.