I’m Entering My First Writing Contest — Here’s What Scares Me Most
The Road Less Traveled
My heart is pounding. I know I write good—but I’ve never truly tested the mettle of my prose.
Writing Tutor Labs (WTL) has many purposes. This site exists as the guide I could never find: a haven for writers who want to emphasize process over perfection, small improvements over big wins, and a love of writing over the need to be the best at writing.
But there’s another purpose hidden beneath that mission—one I’ve avoided for years. WTL is also meant to chronicle my own journey: from amateur writer to professional. From dreaming of having my work read to actually putting it out into the world.
And that road, ironically, feels antithetical to everything else I’ve built here.
To be read—to be accomplished as a writer—feels like chasing the very perfection I’ve promised to resist.
At least, that’s what I used to think.
I’ve begun to realize that the masters of every craft don’t chase perfection—they court chaos. They embrace the mess of creation as the heartbeat of artistry. They know that growth hides in the drafts, not the trophies.
That’s the world I want to live in—the space where imperfection isn’t failure, but proof that you’re still becoming.
So, this year, I’m taking a step that scares me.
I’m entering my first writing competition: the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest.
My Goals Are Simple
Create something unique and deserving of a spotlight.
Chronicle the experience—so anyone else thinking about entering a contest can follow along.
Showcase how Quillwyn (or “Quillywn,” as she prefers) can coach me through every step of the process—drafting, revising, doubting, and, finally, submitting.
This is the first step on a road less traveled—the one that leads from imagination to courage, from “someday” to submit day.
If you’ve ever thought about entering a contest but didn’t know where to start, you’re welcome to walk this road with me.
Next up in this series: Story Ideation, Staring Into The Blank Page Abyss and The Fear of Starting
