Morgen’s MotivationAs an editor for many years
(predominantly for Bloodhound
Books), I know how important
editing is. Many think that
editing means chopping, but
it’s more about shaping. And
that’s especially important when
it comes to short stories and
micro-iction.
Like the NAWG, I run a 100-
word competition (the 55th will
be running when this is published)
and every month I have to
disqualify a handful of entries that
are not the exact count.
Where a speciic number
has to be adhered to, there
will usually be rules governing
what counts as a word and what
doesn’t but if you’re unsure, sites
like wordcounter.net will check
for you. It’s vital to get it right,
especially when you’re paying for
competitions, because you won’t
get your fee reimbursed when
it’s your mistake.Comp of the MonthLaunched in 2006, Women on
Writing (WOW!) runs quarterly
contests for non-iction (200-
1000 words) and lash iction
(250-750 words). The fees are
US$12 and $10 respectively, with
optional critiques. They cut off at
300 entries, but you can resubmit
when the next comp opens.
Prizes are generous, with a top
prize of $500 for non-iction and
$400 for lash iction, plus lots
of runner-up prizes. Despite the
gender title, their FAQ assures
that ‘any person on the planet’
is eligible to enter. See http://www.
wow-womenonwriting.comCompetitive Edge
COMP CALENDAR
Competitive Edge
On my wall above my desk
is a framed certiicate,
commemorating my irst
competition win. It was in April
1998, for a short story. That
validation from an external judge
changed my mindset. It gave me
conidence. And it taught me that
writing is editing.
My irst draft of that prize-
winning story was over 2000
words. The maximum wordcount
was 1500. It took three attempts
to get my entry below that (by
one word). But I did it.
Since then, I’ve written over
800 articles, 14 non-iction books
and had short stories published
across the world – all edited to
the right wordcount.
Competitions taught me that
irst drafts can be any length,
because nobody sees those. Only
the inal, edited version counts.
That’s what takes the real skill.
Editing takes time. Not just the
process itself, but allowing time
between edits too. That’s what
gives writers fresh eyes.
When my agent told me a
publisher was interested in my
novel, but he wanted me to cut it
from 125,000 words to 90,000,
my eyes watered. But I did it,
because several months had
passed since I’d last looked at the
text. Time had played its part.
Edit your writing to make it it
- it the wordcount, it the style
and tone, it the readership.
Cut unnecessary words,
sentences, even paragraphs.
Cut intensifying adverbs (really,
very). Cut dialogue tags. Cut pet
phrases (because, at the end of the
day, we all have them). Does it
still make sense? Yes? That’s proof
those cut words weren’t needed.
Entering competitions regularly
hones that skill, and the National
Association of Writers and
Groups runs many competitions,
some of which are only open to
members. I’ve been a member for
more years than I can remember,
and I’ve judged their travel
and memoir competitions for
numerous years.
Every year the winners of the
members-only competitions are
announced at a gala dinner during
NAWGFest, our annual writing
festival weekend. This year’s
festival (4-6 September) takes
place at a new venue, Yarnield
Park, Staffordshire (www.
yarnieldpark.com). Workshop
tutors include Jean Atkin, Marvin
Close, Alison May and the man
behind the popular To Hull And
Back short story competition,
Christopher Fielden, who will
be looking at what makes a good
short story entry and exploring
short story performance, using
humour, and writing lash iction.
And lash iction is what
NAWG is currently looking for
through our 100x100 lash iction
competition. The entry fee is £3,
the prize money is £100. Entries
must be exactly 100 words. Not
99 words. Not 101 words. Now,
there’s an editing challenge!
Editing works. Editing wins. To
ind out more about NAWG
and its competitions, visit
http://www.nawg.co.uk.EDIT TO WIN
Morgen hears from Simon Whaley,
author, article writer and committee
member of the National Association
of Writers and Groups
■Send your recommendations
for ‘Comp of the Month’ as
well as competitions we could
include. Morgen would also love
to know how you’ve got on with
comps listed in these pages or
elsewhere. Get in touch at the
email address above.