When I first started writing romance novels, friends who were also unpublished, but more experienced, recommended I enter various contests sponsored by different affiliated chapters of Romance Writers of America.  We also had to prepare and enter the Holy Grail of all romance contests -- RWA's Golden Heart!

Here's some of the stuff I learned.  Judging is subjective.  Some judges commonly score high; others habitually score low.  The same entry can earn you raves from one judge, while a second judge's comments will make you feel like you suck scum on the bottom of the writing pond.

In the early days, a lot of writers enter contests for the feedback.   Often, that's worth the entry fee.  However, almost as often the judges' comments don't provide any "useable" advice.   Even someone who loves your entry and gives it an awesome score might not say, "I scored it high because you do this, this and this."

All in all, I'd rather get a low score from a judge who offers a concrete, great critique of what didn't work for her than a rave that tells me nothing.

While some contests, and there are lots of excellent ones out there, might truly help you hone and improve your writing, I think all of them help you toughen up and develop the thick skin you need in this business.   That contest judge who points out that your conflict is weak or that your characters need to be developed more like real people, isn't trying to hurt your feelings.  She might tell you something you really need to hear to polish your work before you send it to an editor. 

Once you've been working for awhile and have risen higher than a complete beginner (and finished the book!) look for contests where editors and agents judge the final round.  If your entry finals, it's like passing Go and collecting $200 in Monopoly.  You bypass the slush piles and land on an editor's desk for an actual read.  I personally know several people whose full manuscripts were requested by editors or agents because of that entry.

That's why I tried to enter contests where I had to send an entire first chapter, or first three chapters. 

Remember to hold onto the thick skin, no matter what.  I entered All Keyed Up (my first book) in a contest and received tremendous scores like 128 and 129 out of a possible 130.  The contest coordinator sent it off to an editor in the publishing house I'd targeted.

The editor hated it.  Didn't get it.  Didn't like the hero. Didn't like anything, as I recall.

But, and this is a big booty-licious but, she was only one editor.  One opinion.  Obviously another editor really liked the book or it would never have been published.

Here's my last bit of advice about contests.  They aren't the be all and end all.  Many authors never enter a contest, or enter and never final, and still manage to sell to a publisher.  Lots of people have finaled or won the Golden Heart and never sold a book.

Take what's valuable for you and leave the rest.

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Personal note:  Want to receive a free book?  I'm giving away copies of All Keyed Up and Key of Sea in my own personal Literacy Benefit.  read all about it over on my blog.  Click here for the scoop.