The Writer's E-Zine Home

Writers' Village University - F2K: Free Fiction Writing Course - ePress-online
Writers' Village University Membership Information

Extra

Suzi Goode

To pay or not to pay

I was recently asked why writers have to pay to enter contests, and why they should if they don't win first, second or third place. This got me thinking about editors who choose to charge reading fees in order for a writer to have his work read.

Most everyone in writing will agree that it is unethical for an editor or literary agency to charge to read your manuscript, whether it is a short story or a novel. (Be warned that literary agents won't place short stories, unless you happen to be as famous as Lawrence Block or Ray Bradbury.) This does not mean that it does not happen. What's a two or three dollar reading fee anyway? Or if you think about it, why not pay a literary agent to see if your manuscript is good enough to meet the strict demands of a publisher or two? The question which comes to mind is: Are agents or editors who charge fees to see your manuscript better than ones who don't charge?

The answer is "No". Editors and agents who charge fees see an opportunity to make money off thousands of hopeful (and gullible) writers. The most common complaint of legitimate editors and agents is that the writer who has submitted work, does not know his craft well enough and this automatically rules out the writer being published.

Knowing your craft means knowing not only what a plot is but also knowing how to write one; knowing how to draw up realistic characters who the reader will be sympathetic to and knowing how to use effective dialogue (among other skills). In case you are wondering, being published is ninety-nine percent hard work and sweat and one percent talent. So odds are that if you are willing to learn your craft and practice every day over a period of time, you will be published. Until you have a good grasp of the craft of writing, it doesn't make sense to send your work to an editor or agent who will read your work, then reject it.

Editors charge reading fees to offset the cost of doing business. They charge fees so they don't have to search for advertisers who will pay for the privilege of appearing in their magazines. Agents charge reading fees because if they don't, they won't make any money. A reputable agent will make money by selling manuscripts to publishing houses and receiving compensation from the writer. It's much like selling a house. You list it with a real estate agent and the agent does the legwork to try to sell it. If and when he sells your house, he gets a commission.

But what about entering writing contests? Do the sponsors have the right to charge an entry fee? Yes because the fees usually pay the prizes for the winning entries. Even here I would use caution. If a contest charges fifty dollars for the entry fee, yet the first prize is only ten dollars, then don't waste your time entering such a contest. In order to make it worth your time, effort and money, make certain that the winning entries will receive a substantially larger cash award than it takes to enter. If they offer publication as part of the award, that's even better.

One thing you should consider carefully, is how do you benefit from entering an above board contest? First, you have your story read by others. Often this alone can be an incentive to better your writing and to write more often. And you have the satisfaction of knowing that you've completed a story and have sent it off. If you don't win an award, there is personal satisfaction in knowing you believe your story good enough to compete with other stories. This too can boost your sense of accomplishment.

Here are some rules I use on those rare occasions when I enter a writing contest:

1. Check out the organization which is sponsoring the contest. Is this the first time they have done so or have they sponsored several contests before?

2. Is the contest sponsored by a magazine with a circulation of a hundred or more? (If the circulation is smaller than this, don't waste your time or money.)

3. Make use of Internet sites which post warnings about particular agents and contests, such as WritersNet at http://www.writers.net/agents.html or http://www.inkspot.com/market/agents.html.

4. Don't enter a contest unless the prize money or chance of being published in a reputable magazine with a circulation of more than a hundred is one of the awards, and is worth more than the entry fee you paid.

5. If you're determined to enter a contest, make certain that if there is an entry fee, that the first, second and third prizes aren't simply a certificate etched on paper, but rather publication, a prize of a reference book or a cash award.

I'd like to end on a positive note after this somewhat hardline approach to editors/agents and writing contests. I've been burned a few times by unscrupulous editors, as have many other full-time writers. Instead of making the same mistakes we have, why not spare yourself some aggravation and heed my cautions?

If you wish to comment on this column or raise a concern for a future column, please email me at suzi@wvu.org.

Happy Writing!