Online Writing Competitions: How to Enter and Actually Place
For a new author, a writing competition is the shortest path from zero readers to a real audience. Not because of the prize, but because placing puts your series in front of the entire platform at once. This guide covers how ChapterChase competitions work and how to prepare an entry that places.
Why competitions matter more than they look
Organic discovery is slow. You publish chapter one into a library of thousands of series and hope. A competition inverts that: for the duration of the event, a curated set of entries gets concentrated attention from readers who are specifically looking for something new. Even entries that do not win frequently come out with a permanent readership they would have taken six months to build otherwise.
How the competitions work
Competitions run on a theme or a format with a defined entry window. You submit an eligible series, readers and judges engage with it during the judging period, and results are announced with prizes and featured placement. Entries live in the competition novels collection where readers browse them together.
What actually gets rewarded
A first chapter that converts
During a competition, readers sample many entries in one sitting. Your first chapter is competing for the next click against a dozen others open in adjacent tabs. Open in scene, establish voice fast, and end on a question.
Consistency during the window
A series that updates reliably through the judging period reads as a real project. One that stalls halfway reads as an experiment.
Genuine engagement
Reader response is part of the signal. Authors who show up in their novel board during a competition consistently outperform authors who submit and disappear.
Fit to the theme
If the competition has a theme, engage with it substantively rather than bolting a keyword onto an existing draft. Judges notice.
A preparation checklist
- Build a buffer of at least five chapters before the window opens, so you never miss an update during judging.
- Rewrite your first chapter one final time. It is the page that decides everything.
- Commission or design a cover. In a grid of entries, the cover is the first filter.
- Write a synopsis that reads like a pitch, not like a summary. Hook first, worldbuilding second, no spoilers.
- Set your tags accurately so the right readers find you.
- Clear your schedule for the window. Competitions reward presence.
Common mistakes
- Entering an unfinished draft with no buffer.
- Ignoring reader comments during the judging period.
- Submitting a story that does not match its own tags.
- Treating the competition as the goal rather than as the launch.
That last one matters most. The prize is a bonus. The readership is the actual return, and it only compounds if you keep publishing after the results are announced.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter a series I already started?
Eligibility depends on the specific competition rules. Check the current competition page.
Do I keep my rights if I win?
Yes. You retain your rights.
How often do competitions run?
Regularly, on rotating themes. Follow the competition page and the forum announcements board.
Is it worth entering as a complete beginner?
Yes. The visibility is valuable even without placing, and the deadline is the most effective writing motivator most authors ever encounter.
See the current event: ChapterChase writing competitions.