I’m a cynic when it comes to contests—as if writing wasn’t hard enough, I have to pay money to get my work read? And yet there is always the allure of wanting to have your work recognized, and even maybe win one of them. So along comes this handy little guide to 150 free contests. It’s well written and organized by genre (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama and children’s literature) with useful tips on preparing your work. From it I’ve learned that contests fund research, scholarships to attend writer’s conferences or retreats, as well as the ever-elusive publication. And no-fee doesn’t mean low profile, by any means, these are all serious opportunities that you could be proud to list on your resume. This is a worthy investment—it costs less to buy this book than a single entry fee for a paying contest. Not only am I going to hurry up and apply to a few myself, this is an indispensable resource for writers who teach, consult or coach, so that they can pass along these opportunities to their students and clients.