February 2014: Be Fearless-Submit Your Work

   Every writer needs to submit his or her work to literary contests, magazines, collections, etc. There are multiple advantages to this exercise. Some submission opportunities send back your work with comments. Most of them, like publishing houses, don't let you know what they thought about your work. This is why you need to submit. It teaches you how to move on.

Before you press the "Submit" key or place the document in the mail. Double and triple check the "Submission Guidelines."

• Before sending your entry, make sure the submission is free of typos, grammatical errors, and is formatted as instructed.
• Following the submission guidelines is critical to helping you get your document into the hands of the gatekeeper. If you didn't format the document correctly, you are deducted for your inability to follow directions. Font size, type, line spacing are not your choice, following the guidelines are not negotiable.
• Formatting a cover sheet and numbering pages is among the most formatting requests.
• Submitting the entry by email (make sure you check the "url" multiple times)You WANT TO  to send the submission to the correct address. If snail mail is an option, be sure you get the envelope postmarked. This demonstrates you posted your entry on time.

Submissions are needed to start a portfolio of printed material. Publishers and agents are interested in what you have done as a writer. If you are self-publishing, submission are another way to develop potential readers. When you submit writings, look for opportunities that help give you exposure in the genre or demographic you are writing your book.

Writing is a job. It is a business if you intend to publish. Today's writers must build an audience while they scribe the next big "thing." It is a lot of work.

Writers who submit work learn to deal with the joy of recognition and the sorrow of rejection. It toughens one's commitment to his or her craft. It doesn't matter if you write prose or poetry, you must seek venues to try to publish your work.

How do you find these opportunities to let the world know you are writing your heart out? There are several places to start researching. First your local writers' group and organizations offer writing contests. State and local government Art Council newsletters advertise opportunities for submitting original work.

Of course, thousands of websites provide submission opportunities, cu Caution: Make sure the site is legitimate and not a scam. You need to be judicious in choosing sites.

 Below are my some favorite sites that prune out the scams as well as one can in this day and age.

Winning Writers - This site is free, but advises you to subscribe.

WOW-Women on Writing -This site offers quarterly contest with a low entry fee and for an small additional fee you receive a critique about  your submission.

Writer's Digest. com This site is available to all. Some offers are for members only while others are available to the public.

PoetsandWriters This group has an online subscription newsletter. It also has a great magazine for the poet in all of us. Click on the headings to see opportunities for submissions.

The Glimmer Train This site is free, but advise you to subscribe.

The Writers' Life   This site not only post contest it also post all types of news about writing.

Remember: When you release your story or poem it must be your very best effort.

Please add your favorite site to find opportunities for submissions in the comment section.