Winners and Losers
Writing about wins and losses
Over at
, there’s an invitation to readers to share what they have won in contests or other competitions. I’ve won a few prizes over the years: a dictionary in 8th grade, as I had the highest score on a quiz about using correct homophones. First place in a flash fiction competition. Pens and pen cases at raffles. Nearly $500 off of two slot machines in Vegas.When I think about wins, I also think about losses: the times I went all in and did not win a prize. Those losses range from writing contests to scholarships to a writing retreat; contracts with prestigious clients; radio call-in contests. I don’t remember as many of those losses, however.
This week, I invite you to peruse the questions below on winning and losing. Select one or more questions to respond to and write about your experiences, or that of a character in a story you’re writing.
What has been the most memorable prize you have won? What was the contest/competition?
What prize have you competed for and lost?
Is there a contest you wish you had entered, but didn’t?
Out of all the prizes you’ve ever won, what did you keep the longest?
Is there a contest you regret winning?
Do you consider yourself to be a lucky person when it comes to winning contests? Why or why not?
Have you known anyone who seems to win every contest they enter? If so, what is that person like? Do you consider them a friend, nemesis, or frenemy?
What real or imagined contest would you most like to win?
Recommendation: set a timer for 25 minutes and see what comes up. You can write by hand or type it out—whatever writing method works for you.
Have fun writing!
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