I got my start with writing competitions, a great way to practice writing to a theme, develop and polish skills, network with other writers, have fun, and even win a prize now and then.
Here’s one of the best I’ve come across:
The Crime Fiction Indie Gold Awards
Celebrating Excellence in Mystery, Thriller, and Suspense Writing
Check these out also:
Writer’s Weekly 24 Hour Quarterly Competition
Writer’s Digest Your Story Competition
The First Line Quarterly Competition
Toasted Cheese hosts themed contests four times a year
The Write Practice sponsors several writing competitions throughout the year