I know what you mean about contests. It’s almost as easy to get compulsive about them as it is to compulsively check e-mail.

Your decision to “bow out” intrigues me. While I’ve received some very valuable feedback, and pats on the back through finals (and near-finals which have come to my attention in various ways), I’m considering bowing out for a while, too. Every contest requires more tweaking of the ms (at least in my case), perhaps a minor adjustment to put the hook at the end of whatever the page count is, the time required to access the contest web site, read the rules, and prepare the entry, etc., etc., all time-suckers that take me away from valuable writing time. And of course, the contest fees add up, as you point out.

I haven’t yet decided to bow out, but I just might do it. And if I do, I’ll come to you for help in going cold turkey!

Have a good writing week!

Rita