10 Writing Opportunities on a Budget

Writing can be as affordable as picking up a notebook and writing; or it could be as expensive as a vacation at a five-star resort with some upscale dinners thrown in the mix. The truth is, if you’ve ever queried, you might wish you spent the money on that vacation.

Here are some opportunities that might be worth your time to improve your craft. Some of them have a price tag, but they come with a reward for everyone—unbiased feedback and maybe something interesting to put on your query letter, if you place.

1. Ink and Insights– This contest has you submit 10k of your writing. You get a rubric and a chance of placing. In one contest, there’s even an agent round. For me, it’s worth the price tag because of how much feedback is returned. This one comes with a sliding price tag. The earlier you enter the better.
2. Pitch Wars– You turn in a query letter, a synopsis and the first few chapters. If you’re chosen, you get a mentor and an agent round. The best part is that it’s free. But competition abounds. I like this one because there’s a vibrant forum, and deadlines help things get done.
3. RevPit– This one is like Pitch Wars, but there’s no agent round. Instead, the editors post feedback on Twitter and some editors even give everyone a little feedback on their query letter. It’s also free to enter.
4. Author Mentor Match– I feel like a broken record now. Same sort of thing as Pitch Wars and RevPit, but a different flavor. Even if you don’t win, deadlines can be the best inspiration to keep writing.
5. Virginia Crown– This one isn’t free, but everyone gets feedback on their first chapter. It’s also a smaller contest so there’s more chances of placing.
6. Wattpad Contests– If you write and you haven’t heard of Wattpad, go check it out. Think social media for writers. I just read about a person who got a publishing deal with a big 5 publishers through years of writing on Wattpad. The contests are free and you build a following. Part of me rolled my eyes when I heard about another social media thing to tackle, but this one comes with a little more perks while you grow your skill.
7. Submissions to Magazines- Submitting to magazines is free or very inexpensive. Though, most magazine don’t provide feedback, some do. Even better, if you do get a contract for your story, some magazines pay well. Here are some magazine ideas: Havok, Brio, Deep Magic, Glimmer Train.
8. 53- Word Contest– This contest is free and has a new prompt every month. It forces you to write a story in 53 words. It’s amazing how easy it’s to delete fluff in your writing when you have a word limit.
9. Upwork– This is one of the many places you can pick up a quick job. I mention this one because I’ve used this before. People post a job and you bid for it. Some writing jobs pay little and some pay well. Most jobs don’t have a by-line, but you do get paid.
10. Twitter Pitch Party– These are events where people write a Tweetable pitch. If you participate, it’s a chance to submit your finished manuscript to an agent or press. If you’re not ready yet, it’s a chance to see what pitches work best. There’s even practice pitch parties where people help you craft your pitch.

I’m sure I only touched the surface of budget friendly contest and submission opportunities. Here are some of the gems I’ve found.

Happy writing!