by Linda Dindzans
My writing journey began in early 2013 when I decided that what I had planned as a sabbatical from my ENT practice was actually retirement. The call to put down my scalpel and pick up my pen was clear, but the journey ahead was entirely uncharted.
Early on, I committed to developing my craft through conferences, online courses, and critique groups. This first post shares what I learned from my first writing contest.
By nature, I am more Martha than Mary, more Peter than John. After “writing” fiction for all of five weeks, I attended my first writers’ conference at The Cove in North Carolina. With hindsight, I see the gentle, guiding hand of God. The conference was small, personal, and Christian. There, I received my first critique from a man who was committed to speaking the truth in love.
“The opening of your story is fascinating…” He took a deep breath, looked down at my work, and rustled the pages.
I smiled at his slight flush and searched for the right words.
“But I have no technique.”
My cutting self-assessment made him meet my eyes with surprise. A question in his.
“I started trying to learn to write five weeks ago.”
“Oh.” The grin of relief that flooded his face had us both laughing. “Well, in that case, let me teach you a new term: head-hopping.”
He encouraged me to attend a larger Christian writers conference in May.
This conference offered critiques and contests for published and unpublished authors. After reading blog posts about how to get the most out of a writer’s conference, I felt overwhelmed.
Lord, what should be my next step to answer the call I believe You have given me to write biblical fiction?
His answer seemed like an inserted thought.
Are you going to be an observer, or step out of the boat and be a participant?
Sometimes answering the call to write means stepping out of the boat and trusting God with the results. #ChristianWriters #WritingContests #ACFW #WritingLife Share on XRequesting critiques felt comfortable. After all, surgical training is built upon minute-to-minute critique, and “coachability” can be a matter of safety.
But a contest was a whole new frontier. It gave writers a place to measure their work and enter the race. Another draw was that the entry fees provided scholarships.
In all honesty, my competitive nature was also pricked. I reasoned that no one had to know I had entered a flash fiction and a short story. I was a “newbie”—the ultimate underdog. Nothing was expected of me.
Entering this first contest made me reflect on Christian competition. Scripture speaks of running to win. Jesus taught the parable of the talents, prompting us to be good stewards of our gifts rather than avoiding risk, loss, or embarrassment.
What does godly competition look like? I see three beneficiaries: God, others, and self.
God: Exercising our God-given gifts brings glory to Him. We share the stories He has laid on our hearts for specific readers, with specific needs, at specific times.
Others: Our participation allows contests to exist. A healthy desire to win can encourage excellence. “Iron sharpens iron.” Winning can also provide “a foot in the door” with agents, publishers, and editors.
Self: Contests can offer affirmation and encouragement from a neutral, professional source beyond friends and family.
As the conference progressed, I was surprised by how invested I became in the results. I dressed for the Awards Gala, looked in the mirror, and admitted what God already knew.
I wanted to win.
I prayed the Jabez prayer, popular at the time. I wanted God to “expand my boundaries,” but not to the point of pride and selfish ambition.
At dinner, I spoke with other nervous writers. Our discussion turned to the pitfalls of unhealthy competition: loss of humility, envy of another’s success, win-at-all-costs mentality, and broken relationships with other writers called by God. I was blessed to be seated with mature writers and believers. The consensus was that this was an arena of spiritual battle best met with prayer, self-examination, and surrender to God’s wisdom.
The results of the contest? God knew the encouragement I needed and the limits of success my prideful heart could tolerate.
Linda Dindzans, M.D., is an award-winning author with the heart of a healer. A Certain Man is her debut novel set in ancient Samaria. A Certain Mercy, Book Two in A Certain Future Series, was released on December 9, 2025. Learn more about Linda on her website: lindadindzans.com, Facebook: Linda Dindzans, Author, X: @lindadindzans, and Instagram: @lindadindzans
Comments 3
That was a great message. Entering contests, I have wrestled with pride and ego in the same way you describe. It helped to hear that I am not alone in that, and that surrendering to Him remains the best recourse from other believers’ perspectives as well, and that it can be a challenge for all of us. Thanks, again.
Thank you for this blog post. I have entered a couple online contests with short stories and poetry. I have never been accepted, but after the initial disappointment, it encourages me to try to improve my work. It also challenges me to keep writing for Christ—the stories He has put in my heart, instead of bending to what would be more saleable.
In the end, surrendering your work to Him is the best way you can go, entering contests or not!
Thanks for your encouragement through this post, Linda. Receiving criticism, even constructive criticism, hurts, but it did inspire me to improve my writing. Congratulations on getting your first book published.