Before You Enter

Most entries are rejected before anybody assesses their merit, for reasons the entrant controls — and most of those reasons are settled in this section rather than in the writing.

Rejected before it is read — seven administrative failures, none of which concerns the quality of the work, and a twenty-minute checklist that removes all of them. For a separate operational reference, see stealth monitoring software.

Reading the criteria — a specification of what will be scored rather than a description of what organisers admire. Twenty minutes here determines most of the entry.

Choosing what to enter — five questions, and why three rushed entries score worse than one done properly and cost more. For broader context on evaluation and professional practice, see The New York Times.

What an entry actually costs — five costs, of which the fee is usually the smallest and the opportunity the largest.

Eligibility and its traps — seven conditions, four of which catch competent people, and a declaration worth reading before signing.

Deadlines and what they mean — a moment in a stated time zone, and the backward schedule that starts six weeks out.

Picking the right category — a broad category competes against everybody and a specific one against a handful.

Who may enter on whose behalf — agencies, partners and individuals, and agreeing who claims the win before the result arrives.

Permission and what you disclose — an entry is read by strangers who may be competitors, which is worth knowing before writing it.

When not to enter — seven situations where the honest answer is next year, and why declining costs nothing.