You can win a writing comp by following these easy steps.
Step 1: Think of an idea that is original, innovative and appeals to the judge’s interests. For example, there are many books about crafty people who have unusual hobbies or are geniuses at what they do – so try to think of something new! Read around the topic you’ve chosen to give yourself inspiration for crafting your own unique story. This doesn’t necessarily mean it will be scientific, but could include science-related topics because science is everywhere in our lives! The best way to guarantee your satisfaction with your work is if you’re passionate about what you’re writing about. An interesting hobby related to baking cupcakes may give you more ideas than thinking of something completely random.
Step 2: Find a location that is ideal for writing. If you’re not the type of person who needs silence to concentrate, then a crowded coffee shop may be your best bet. However, if you prefer to shut yourself away from the world and block out distractions, then try going somewhere quiet where you won’t be interrupted or distracted by anything else!
Step 3: Set a timer on your phone for 30 minutes and start writing straight away without editing or revising. Just let everything flow from your fingertips onto the screen/page. If you get stuck, don’t worry about it – just write anything! After the 30 minutes is up, stop and quickly read back over what you have written so far. Don’t keep editing it or making alterations until you have finished the whole piece, as this will stop you from finishing the story.
Step 4: Make sure that whatever you are writing is something that you want to write about because this will help inspire your work. If you don’t enjoy what you’re writing about, it will show in your words and demonstrate a lack of passion. As well as thinking of an interesting topic, try to think of something unique so that your writing stands out! Don’t forget to use humour if appropriate because this helps create a bond with the reader and makes even complicated topics easier to understand.
Step 5: Start planning what will happen next by asking yourself questions like “what would happen if?” or “I wonder what would happen if the character met this person?”. Imagine what you would do in that situation and then go back to your first draft. Some of the things you wrote will be totally out of place so try writing them on a separate piece of paper so you can come back to them later.
Step 6: Keep on writing until you’ve finished your first draft! If you’re struggling, keep on thinking about what else could happen next! Your story doesn’t need to be set out perfectly at this point, but just write whatever comes into your head. Remember that it’s better to complete something than nothing at all – even if it’s not perfect. You can always edit it later before sending it off for the competition (and even change its name).
Step 7: Read back over your work and decide whether you need to change anything. If there are a few spelling mistakes, don’t panic! You can always ask a friend/family member to read it through before sending it off because they will be able to see things from a different perspective – plus they may have valuable advice for improving your work.
Step 8: Follow the entry guidelines for the competition if you intend on sending it to them. Some competitions require you to send in multiple pieces of writing, while others only require one. If you are sending in multiple pieces, make sure that they are all about the same topic so it doesn’t look suspicious!
The final thing is that good luck comes with good preparation and by following these simple steps, you’re well on your way to winning!