I live in the UK and have entered quite a few good literary competitions over the years which have charged an entry fee. The National Poetry Prize, the Asham Award, the Bridport Prize, the Fish Prize: all are very well respected, and all charge entry fees which no one objects to.
However, on AW I've noticed a reluctance to enter competitions which charge fees. I realise that there's a worry that fees might be going towards supporting vanity operations: but in the UK moneys raised by entry fees are often the only thing that keeps our smaller literary magazines in print.
So, my questions: are entry fees for literary competitons frowned upon in America? Do the good competitions ever charge for them? What about if the entry fees all went to a good cause, rather than to the publisher concerned: would that be more acceptable? Or is it best for a competition just to avoid charging anything for entry at all, and so avoid any potential worries or criticisms?
However, on AW I've noticed a reluctance to enter competitions which charge fees. I realise that there's a worry that fees might be going towards supporting vanity operations: but in the UK moneys raised by entry fees are often the only thing that keeps our smaller literary magazines in print.
So, my questions: are entry fees for literary competitons frowned upon in America? Do the good competitions ever charge for them? What about if the entry fees all went to a good cause, rather than to the publisher concerned: would that be more acceptable? Or is it best for a competition just to avoid charging anything for entry at all, and so avoid any potential worries or criticisms?
