Is it just me, or do competitions that have an entry criterion of having already been published (e.g. BBC and The Sunday Times) smack of elitism? If its a competition why shouldn't it be open to all writers?
Is it just me, or do competitions that have an entry criterion of having already been published (e.g. BBC and The Sunday Times) smack of elitism? If its a competition why shouldn't it be open to all writers?
Might it be partly to do with checking the entrant isn't a one trick pony? The big competition invests prize money in someone, gives them lots of publicity and then they sink without trace - doesn't really pay the competition organisers back (in terms of lots of mentions of the competition organisers in the winner's future career). Of course a track record doesn't guarantee this won't happen.
I kind of see where you're coming from but there are also competitions aimed only at unpublished writers (e.g. the Mslexia novel award, although, granted, that one's for women only) and lots more aimed at anyone regardless of publication status e.g. the Yeovil, Bridport, Bristol, Bath and, I think, Lightship prizes.
Most of the competitions I mention above charge entry fees, which, one could argue, is the organiser's way of limiting the entries (as well as funding the prizes). Many of the comps that have an already published criterion in their terms and conditions use that as a way of limiting the entrants. (And, make no mistake, these comps attract hundreds, if not thousands, of entrants, posing a real manpower issue for the judges.) Also, I'd argue that, just as in other spheres of work, published writers are entitled to comps where they are judged against their peers.