A few months ago, I submitted a short story to a writing contest that required a $20 entrance fee. I have never paid to submit my writing before. Mostly, this is because I have verifiable evidence that writers don’t make enough money to consider contest deals. However, it was a writing contest, so I thought, what the heck!? Long story short, I did not win (I didn’t even get a pity publication even though they stipulated that there was a chance, but I honestly don’t think I understood the market that well). I was also out $20, which is kind of a bummer because that could have been money for late-night writing fuel (coffee, probably).