The importance of writing contests in the literary ecosystem

According to this article in the Chicago Tribune "$9.8 million in prize money was awarded in literary contests last year in the U.S., U.K. and Canada, an increase of more than $900,000 from the previous year. The beneficiaries of all that money were 1,071 writers, up from 904 in 2003. And 152 books were published as a result of the contests, a jump from 121 the year before." The source cited is Kevin Larimer of Poets & Writers magazine. Our writing festival in Singapore works closely with the leading short story contest. Contests and festivals should be seen as part of the same larger system, offering diversity but reinforcing each other as well.