Magic Words: How to Enchant Judges & Conjure Contest Wins

by Ellen E. Withers

Transform your book, short fiction, or nonfiction work into a spellbinding, prize-worthy contest winner with Magic How to Enchant Judges and Conjure Contest Wins. When you apply the magic found inside, you’ll produce bewitching tales that will charm readers and contest judges.

Have you wondered what a contest judge really cares about when judging a contest?

Magic Words provides the information every writer needs to craft prizewinning contest entries for novels, short fiction, and nonfiction work. It’s a tremendous resource that disseminates the techniques judges want to see in contest submissions as well as contest-winning tips and opinions from multiple contest judges.

Written by a multiple award-winning author, who has judged multitudes of writing contests, Magic Words has the answers for you. Packed with opinions and suggestions from twelve contest judges, this guide shares what you need to win. When you apply the recommended skills to your contest entries, your work will bewitch judges and conjure an enchanting contest winner.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2025

About the author

Ellen is an award-winning fiction writer, freelance writer and retired insurance fraud investigator. She is excited about her mystery/dual-time series, Show Me Mysteries, set in her picturesque hometown of Mexico, Missouri. Scrivenings Press released the first book of the series, Show Me Betrayal, May 16, 2023. It was a dual finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writer's 2024 Carol Awards in the Debut Novel and Mystery/Suspense/Thriller categories. It was the Scrivenings Press Reader's Choice Award for Best Mystery/Suspense for 2023. Book two in the series, Show Me Deceit, released May 14, 2024 and won the Scrivenings Press Reader's Choice Award for Best Mystery/Suspense for 2024 . Book three in the series, Show Me Skullduggery, will be published May 2025.

She is also proud to be one of three contributors to a Christmas novella collection titled A Gift for All Time, released September 26, 2023, from Scrivenings Press.

Ellen has a nonfiction book to help writers win writing contests. Magic Words: How to Enchant Judges & Conjure Contest Wins was published by Scrivenings Press January 2025.

More information about Ellen’s books, writing tips and guest author highlights can be found at her website www.ellenewithers.com.

Her Facebook page is Ellen E. Withers.

When not writing or reading, Ellen enjoys spending time with her family, traveling the world with her adventurous friends and performing with Top of the Rock Chorus, a Sweet Adeline chorus in central Arkansas.

Reviews

[Mary Johns · Rating 4 out of 5]

This craft book was written for writers who want to enter contests, but it doesn't stop there. A fabulous read for newbie writers, an excellent review for those who've been at it for a while. I particularly enjoyed chapters 8-17, the chapters on novel craft, but the editing portion is a must read for writers new to the industry. The author makes the information "easy listening," and I enjoyed her writing style. Loved the takeaways at the end of each chapter.

[Don Money · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellen has written a fantastic book to help improve your skills in the competitive world of contest writing. Her advice is relatable and informative, and she bases it all on her experience as a successful writer in the market. This book is a great blueprint for finding success whether you are new to contest writing or an old hand at it. It’s a book I am sure to go back to time and time again.