So much for All Hallows Eve...
Now the 'once upon a midnight drear' begins . November is cold and damp and raw--- perfect ambiance though for writing a murder mystery or perhaps a short story . A lot of contests ramp up at this time . One such site promoting various prose and poetry entries is :
If you subscribe to this or any similar site, be prepared that 90% of the information offered will be 'rejectionable' by you, but the odd legitimate no-fee contest may show up (check that it is not just a self-publishing racket in disguise ) and there are lots whose fees are minimum ( $10- $30) you might try. It helps to build a portfolio of smaller published pieces if you're trying to sell 'the Big One' to a publisher . (It shows committment to the cause , if nothing else). Sure , even these contests can be a money-grab, but others , if offering decent prize money, need to fund somehow. Take a chance if you think it's worth being out of pocket a minimal amount.
Quoth the Raven : ' Clever...More!'