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Picked a character-driven story over a plot-driven one for a contest, lost by a landslide
Last month I had to choose between two ideas for a local writing contest with a $200 prize. One was a tight thriller with twists every 3 pages, the other was a slow burn about a guy who replants his dead wife's garden. I went with the garden one because it felt real. Judge said the pacing was too slow and I didn't even place. Has anyone else bombed a contest by going with the 'meaningful' option instead of the crowd-pleaser?
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zara_sanchez8d ago
My dad's cat story got rejected six times before winning a small award.
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smith.elliot8d ago
Stick with the garden story anyway. Contest judges love formulaic thrillers because they're easier to judge quickly. Character stories take time to sink in and most contests don't have the patience for that. The garden idea probably hit something real and true. Keep that one in your back pocket for a different audience.
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