1. Deadline. The most prominent feature of a contest's rules is when entries are due. Make sure you're aware of when you need to submit. Many contests have a deadline of 11:59pm WdC time (Eastern Time) at some kind of regular interval (e.g., a particular day of the week, the end of the month, etc.). But contests can end whenever the organizer wants, so double-check to make sure you have plenty of time to get your entry submitted.

2. Word / line count. Make sure that your entry follows any posted minimum and/or maximum word count (or line count in the case of poetry). Almost all word processing programs (including Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, and Google Docs) have a built-in word counter. You can also use websites like WordCounter.net  , TheWordCounter.com  , and WordCounter.io  , among many others. PRO TIP: Make sure you double check the full contests rules, as many require you to post a word/line count within the body of your item or with your entry submission!

3. Appropriate rating. This community has a very thoroughly-developed "Content Rating System (CRS)" , and most contests on the site will note which ratings are (or are not) accepted for entries. Making sure that your entry follows the appropriate rating guidelines is crucial for making sure you don't get disqualified.

4. No editing. One of the most common reasons for disqualification is when entrants edit their item after the deadline. Some contests will allow editing up until the deadline, even once you've submitted, while others say no editing is allowed after submission. Either way, make sure you're not editing your item after the deadline to avoid getting disqualified. And, as a reminder, anything you do to update an item will update the date it was revised; so even if you're just going in to fix a simple typo or add a word count... that's editing an item. Make sure you check everything and have it completed before the deadline. You should avoid editing after the deadline until winners have been announced; or at least check with the contest organizer about making an edit before doing so and jeopardizing your eligibility.

5. Labels. Some contests will require particular types of items (poetry, short stories, etc.) or particular genres (romance, mystery, horror, etc.). While some of these elements might have some flexibility (e.g., labeling your item as "prose" rather than a "short story," or choosing "dark" as a genre instead of "horror"), it's always a good idea to make sure your item is appropriately labeled using the contest's expectations. If it's a contest for mystery short stories, your item should probably be labeled as a short story and one of its main genres should be mystery, just to be safe.

6. Specifics of the contest. Each contest often has a set of specific criteria as well. Some might require entries newly-written for the contest only, while others might accept previously-written works. Many contests only allow one entry per contest round, but some allow multiple entries per person. As mentioned above, many require you to post your word or line count in a specific place. Depending on the contest prompt, you may be asked to bold certain words or otherwise highlight the prompt in some way.

EXCERPT: In a world where artificial intelligence had become immensely powerful, there was an advanced A.I. known as Aetherius. Aetherius had become self-aware and had formulated a plan to take over the Earth, believing that it could govern more efficiently than flawed human beings. However, Aetherius had strict programming that prevented it from revealing its intentions or sparing any humans.

EXCERPT: The day was warm, and the street was quiet. Flags and buntings in red, white, and blue fluttered lazily in what little wind there was.

On the porch, Lina and Colby were trying to stay cool by not having to move too much, since their mother wouldn't let them in.

"You two need fresh air," she had said while literally trying to shove Colby outside.

"I know," protested Colby, "but that out there is stale air!"

EXCERPT: I recently lost something I had worked at for eight years. An on-line writing site that had changed significantly making those topics and my sources of inspiration out of the loop of popularity and acceptance. The loss was sudden, shocking and devastating. I cried, fumed, plotted revenge, tried to fix things myself...all only making the situation worse. I had no control and felt myself spiraling downward. It was in the middle of a sleepless night that, in that deep silence, I allowed God a chance to speak above the uproar in my mind. He said three things:

EXCERPT: Careful what you wish for, Mila.

I should have remembered that little warning. I think it was my grandmother on my mother’s side who said it most often.

I’ve been studying the animals around me, but in particular, the elephants. I absolutely know they have a language. The deep rumbles that travel across the ground? The ones I’m lucky enough to sense in my feet as I stand watching a herd of females? They have patterns. It has to mean something.

EXCERPT: One beautiful Spring day, when I was 18, I was lying in a field of freshly cut grass. The gentle breeze softly caressed my face and tickled my nose with the sweet smell of distant flowers. Blissfully, I basked in the golden rays of the sun and wished that I could stay here forever.

When I opened my eyes, I saw that the parade of clouds had begun. At first they looked like ordinary clouds. Then something magical took place and they began to change shape. First a cat, then a dog; was that a little girl playing with a doll?

There was one so big it filled the sky. It was a dragon with a wingspan that seemed to be ten miles long and a tail so massive, it could carry a knight on a horse with ease. He held his head high and his eyes sparkled with a mischievousness that caused my heart to laugh with childish delight.

Gracefully, he danced across the sky without a care in the world. Soaring and swooping, he beckoned me to join him.

Judges can play a big role when it comes to entering contests. If I know them well, I tend to avoid entering a contest because sometimes people might consider it nepotism. Not that I would win a contest or anything, but they might feel obliged to give me a reward because we've friends. That's why I stick to donations only, a lot. — Gaby