Why aren't people entering contests anymore?

 O'Abby here.

This week I have a question for you rather than attempting to answer one from a reader. I'd really like it if you could leave your thoughts in the comments.

This week DL Hammons' Write Club was forced to abandon the contest for 2022 because there were not enough entries.  And we have been noticing a downturn in numbers entering our own Pass or Pages contests too.  And these are free contests.  You don't have to pay to play!

I want to know why writers are not entering these free contests.  Especially since there seem to be far fewer of them now than there were ten or fifteen years ago when I started searching for opportunities for my work.  Back then blogging was huge and there were any number of blogs that held regular writing contests with agents and publisher reading queries and excerpts and making requests.  Almost all of these contests have gone - apart from our own Pass or Pages.

Are agents fatigued by contests and it has become too difficult to get them to commit to judging?  Are writers choosing to self-publish rather than going the agent to traditional publisher route?  Are writers happier condensing their query to 40 characters for Twitter pitch contests, which do still seem to exist?  Are more people entering pay to play contests?

I want your thoughts.  I want your opinions. I genuinely want to know why writers wouldn't leap toward free contests that, even if they don't get picked by an agent, generate valuable, honest feedback for your work from readers.

X O'Abby

Pre- Writers Conference Giveaway: NYRC 2013

Woot! I love it when Operation Awesome is operation: AWESOME!

It's time to spread the word about our upcoming online writers conference, and what better way than with an awesome online giveaway!

Enter using the rafflecopter form below.

New Year's Revisions Conference 2013

January 4, 5, and 6 

Totally free, totally online. 

You wrote the crap out of that book in November. Or maybe you've been working on yours even longer. The time has come... revision time. Pay the piper, meet the reaper -- all those lovely euphemisms for the real work of writing: revising. You do not have to do it alone. We have gathered a group of fabulous book lovers: the ones who write the books, the ones who represent the authors, and the ones who edit the books. They all want you to succeed in making your book as shiny as it can possibly be before you query/publish.

That's the focus of NYRC 2013.

If you love books, want to write, or have written a book, this conference will have plenty for you to love in the way of professional publishing advice, and yes, more giveaways. There will also be a critique partner matching service for those looking for a second pair of eyes for their work.

We'll be live-tweeting the events @OpAwesome6 and using the #NYRC hash tag. Hope you'll join us!

To recap:

• Professional publishing advice from our panel of experts
• Guest posts by literary agents, editors, and published authors - all with an eye toward helping you through the revision process
• Book giveaways - *happy sigh* mmm, books.
• Critique partner matching service (January 3, the day before the conference officially begins)

Giving away today via rafflecopter (giveaway runs from Dec. 21-24):
SHADOWS OF THE HIDDEN by Anne Riley (e-copy)
DEADWOOD by Kell Andrews (signed ARC)
AMAROK by Angela Townsend (e-copy)
A LITTLE BIT WICKED by Robyn DeHart  (e-copy)
GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA by Shannon Duffy (e-copy)
SHIMMER OF ANGELS by Lisa Basso (e-copy)

$10 amazon.com gift card

a Rafflecopter giveaway