6 Story Polishing Tips From a Writing Contest Judge
Author Audrey Wick has seen a lot of good and bad in contest entries, and she shares six story polishing tips from a writing contest judge here.
As a Writer’s Digest contest judge for the last several years, I have had the pleasure of seeing a wide range of entries from eager writers. It’s always inspiring to read completed projects from writers who are ready to share their work. In particular, reading hundreds of submissions has informed my sharing of these tips to help writers improve.
Over the past few weeks, Writer’s Digest and I have teamed up to do just that. Through a series that focuses on instruction and examples, we have provided articles that aim to improve a writer’s craft. After all, writing is a process, and writers develop their skills over time. Combining those skills with careful attention to the art of revision can help writers elevate their work, regardless of genre.
6 Story Polishing Tips From a Writing Contest Judge
Here, those articles are pulled together so writers can see possibilities for improvement using specific grammar-focused and diction-centric tips. From dialogue and punctuation to typing conventions and titles, here are six direct ways to develop skills of strong, effective writing:
- Use Beats to Improve Dialogue and Action in Scenes. Dialogue tags can keep characters’ speech organized, but adding beats in between lines of dialogue can elevate the action.
- Use Internal Dialogue to Reveal Character. To deepen character development, writers can experiment with weaving first person lines (italicized) alongside the narration they write.
- Know the Difference Between a Hyphen and a Dash. Writers should pay attention to their punctuation use as much as their word choice, and learning the functions of commonly misused marks can help.
- Beware Homophones. Word choice can be tricky, and certain words can be especially confusing. Learning about homophones will help writers avoid distractions on the page so that their writing will be smoother.
- Follow Industry Typing Conventions for the Writing Genre. Since so much writing is shared digitally, writers can benefit from following publishing industry expectations when it comes to spacing, alignment, and format.
- Leverage the Power of a Strong Title. There is no single secret to writing a good title, but by considering different approaches, writers can land on the best choice for each of their projects.
As writers work toward polishing their final drafts, these articles can help them feel more confident in their work and get them ready for contest submission. After all, connecting with a community of writers and finding readers is an integral part of the writing process, and contests provide those outlets. As writers work to do that, they can continue to develop their craft so that their final products are truly the best that they can be.
Audrey Wick is an author with Harlequin (Harper Collins) and full-time professor of English at Blinn College (Texas). She has authored educational content in college textbooks for Cengage and been a repeat contributor to Writer's Digest, Woman's World, and Chicken Soup for the Soul, with stories also appearing in various literary journals. Audrey believes the secret to happiness includes lifelong learning and good stories. But travel and coffee help. She has journeyed to over twenty countries—and sipped coffee in every one. See photos on her website audreywick.com and follow her on X and Instagram @WickWrites.
