1.  Start strong.  Many judges will read the first part of an entry and then discard it if they are not interested at that point.

2.  Introduce an unsolved problem in the beginning to entice the judge to read the rest of the story for the answer.

3.  Create realistic characters with realistic dialogue.

4.  Dare to be different.  The setting, characters or plot should be unique and catch the judge's attention.  Using conventionality will bore your judges.

5.  For contests without a length restriction or requirement, send a medium-length piece to display your talent without overwhelming the judges.

6.  Your piece should have a positive meaning.

7.  Stick to your theme throughout the piece.

8.  Judges are often interested in pieces that go against conventionality, such as a piece about a child abusing their parent rather than being abused.

9.  Adhere to the contest rules or your entry may be discarded.

10.  Pay attention to grammatical errors such as spelling and syntax.