I never win writing contests. Not in middle or high school. Not in college. Not even in my MFA program. (Though years later they did ask me to judge the contest I never won, and I was honored to do so). Even post-MFA, with my first two manuscripts–Delicate Men: Stories, and Californium: A Novel of Punk Rock, Growing Up, and Other Dangerous Things–I entered a few contests and came close with the story collection (getting short-listed twice). And that’s what is great about contests; they give you goals and deadlines (writers need deadlines, especially for big projects), and you know your manuscript will be read with care.

Eventually, both of my first two books found publication in the (for me) more traditional way: Delicate Men through soliciting indie presses on my own and Californium through the imprint of a big New York press solicited by my agent. Yet, I’d argue that having to get them ready for contests was a great way to get them ready for acquisitions editors and literary agents.

So, when my third book, Poser: A Mostly-True Memoir-in-Essays, was ready to shop, did I think things would be any different? Not exactly. I’m a realistic optimist. I thought the fact that I’d published two books might mean I could write a third that could, perhaps, be contest-worthy, but I also know how hard it is to win a contest no matter how great the manuscript it. I tried ot be thoughtful about the contests I entered in terms of who the judges and press were and how my book aligned with that, and when I was a Finalist for the Permafrost Book Prize but didn’t win, I wasn’t shocked or too disappointed. It was affirming that this manuscript was almost good enough to win, and that had me looking at more contests, especially the ones that also give themselves the option of publishing not just the winner but some of the finalists.

That’s what lead me to enter Vine Leaves Press’s 2026 International Voices in Creative Nonfiction Competition (applications are now open for the 2027 competition, by the way). They only guarantee they’ll publish the winner, but the option to publish the finalists is there. After being long-listed, I was pleased. After being short-listed, and therefore a finalist, I was excited but still realistic. Afterall, I don’t win contests. There were five finalists, so a 20% chance I’d win and an 80% chance I would not.

Weeks later, when I received an email informing me I, in fact, did not win, I wasn’t surprised and once again was only a little disappointed. My writing, this book, was once again affirmed. And it’s nice to have your name and book title listed in the company of teriffic authors.

The email kept going, however, which was a surprise. There was this extra bit about how I had finished runner-up, and how much Vine Leaves Press liked Poser, and how they’d very much like to publish it and would be offering me a contract. At that moment, I didn’t know how to feel. I hadn’t been here before. This wonderful, Athens, Greece-based press hadn’t just named me runner-up, they’d just awarded me a silver medal (metaphorically, of course).

And so I didn’t win, and yet I won. My third book, Poser, will be published in February, 2028, by Vine Leaves Press. In the time between now and then, I’ll work with the editing team and, on my own, work on my fourth book, a novel, and fifth book, a story collection. And yes, when the time comes to shop those books, I’ll think about entering some contests, certain I won’t win, and still enter them anyway, because there’s more than one way to be a winner.