Short Story Contests and Not Always Winning

I just got results back from a short story contest that I submitted a story in, and I didn’t place. I submitted a story that I find to be very good, but it goes to show that the opinions of others differ greatly from your own. With short story contests, you just don’t know who is judging, and what these judges are looking for.

There’s something to be said about having a deep awareness that in this writing game, you are going to fail whether it’s not getting a literary agent or not placing in these contests. There comes doubt about your own ability as a potential author, but then remember that the learning process is wrought with obstacles and failures. I mean, it would be strange if you won every contest that you participate in, or that literary agents are just jumping left and right to represent you.

I’ve read that those that make it are those that simply endure, especially when it gets hard, and that applies to many things.