Hi there,

I'm not going to give you a reading, but just some general advise. I am a writer too, and have found competitions to be a waste of time, nomatter how good you are. There are other easier ways to get your writing noticed, such as signing up with an agent. If you are concerned that writing may not pay the bills, I suggest you take a part-time job, and write part-time. You may also consider having an independent critique done of your writing, which will show your strengths and let you know of areas you can improve on.  When you get a good critique, you can show this to potential agents.

Hope that helps,

Hey Sharon  I have considered that idea and have tried the agent route it left me with very seriously ripped off empty wallet (I tried 3 different agents they all stunk royally)
and my health won't allow me to work, lately, even part time. That is why I will be giving the competitions/contest route a chance. But will definitely keep the avenue you suggested open in my mind .

Thanks a bunch.

-Seeks777

Ok. Did you get a critique done first? There are critique services on the internet that charge under $100. And it's a lot cheaper to email your book to agents, rather than post, if that's what you meant. Keep trying with the agents I suggest. Good luck and good health!

Hi, Seeks.

I don't see any big direct payoff coming from a contest entry at this time. Things like that and contributing to small publications will, over a long period of time, get you in the scene, where you can watch for your opening and seize it if it comes up. The way to write for publication is to write for publication. Do the writing jobs that nobody else wants to do but that get you circulating in the crowd you want to be in. My sense is that breaking directly into screenwriting is not going to happen. I get that you can have a rewarding, mind-expanding writing career, but it will not be on "your terms" as you currently see them. An example of what I mean is: If you want to make a few dollars, you may have to write features, and that is just not on your to-do list. If what I see is correct, then you don't even have the current Writer's Market. You'll have to get hold of one and open your mind to the possibility of doing the different kinds of work it talks about. Acceptance of the world on the world's terms is the key concept here.

That's what I'm seeing.