Baker once had a writing teacher that said writing wasn't a competition between writers. The only competition was the writer vs. the page. He obviously hadn't heard of the epic Poets vs. Prosers basketball games, but more importantly, he was correct. The longer you are a writer, the more you see that it's much more important and fulfilling to collaborate and cooperate. But, balderdash, you say. There are cutthroat writing contests and competitions galore! Yes, it's true, but even then, Fiction Schoolers believe it's important to see it as joining in a community and supporting the literary world, paying it forward with your entry fee to receive that little extra bit of attention from a caring and invested editor. Today on the show, we talk about the role contests can play in a writer's career, how to love rejections and losing, and the litmus test all writers need to give themselves before they enter a contest. Full show notes at www.fictionschool.com