A red sun rises. Blood has been spilled this night. - The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

As you and I listen to Uncle Monty tell the three Baudelaire orphans that no harm will ever come to them in the Reptile Room, we should be experiencing the strange feeling that accompanies the arrival of dramatic irony…. For no matter how safe and happy the three children felt, no matter how comforting Uncle Monty's words were, you and I know that soon Uncle Monty will be dead and the Baudelaires will be miserable once again. - Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events

“The first man had three wishes.”“Yes,” was the reply. “I don’t know what the first two were, but the third was for death. That’s how I got the paw.” - The Monkey’s Paw, WW Jacobs

My father’s voice comes back to me. “Not these, Katniss. Never these. They’re nightlock. You’ll be dead before they reach your stomach.” - The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

Professor Snape: Can anyone tell me what a portkey is? Yes, Miss Granger?Hermione: A portkey is an enchanted object that when touched will transfer the one or ones who touched it to anywhere on the globe decided upon by the enchanter.Professor Snape: Very good. Now, can anyone tell me what foreshadowing is? Yes, Miss Granger?Hermione: Foreshadowing is a dramatic device in which an important plot point is mentioned early in the story to return later in a more significant way. - A Very Potter Musical

Don’t participate half-heartedly or use work that you have not yet edited or assume that there is a less talented writing pool participating in the contest. You should prepare for the competition assuming everyone else is taking the process just as seriously as you are. - Ran Walker

The original Greek meaning of the word anthology is a collection or gathering of flowers in bloom. - Jane Garmey

It helps to be pretty thick-skinned if you’re going to enter contests. But anyone who writes for more than pure personal satisfaction knows that rejection is part of the deal. - Amy Cook

Don’t read success stories, you will only get a message. Read failure stories, you will get some ideas to get success. - Abdul Kalam

It’s important to note that guidelines may vary a little based on who you talk to or what you read, but by following the ones stated… you will make sure your manuscript looks clean, easy to read, and won’t get rejected because of sloppy formatting. - Brian A Klems

Many writers are paralyzed by the thought that they are competing with everybody else who is trying to write and presumably doing it better…. Forget the competition and go at your own pace. Your only contest is with yourself. - William Zinsser

Write your story as it needs to be written. Write it honestly, and tell it as best you can. I’m not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter. - Neil Gaiman

I always try to use my medium, and if I get into a normal sitcom-writing contest with normal sitcom writers, I'm going to lose. - Dan Harmon

Writers often wrestle with the written word alone, but competitions can be a way to connect with a larger community. After all, stories can benefit others, and judges of writing contests want to celebrate success. - Audrey Wick

Let’s face it: The ‘genius’ stuff happens in the editing process. - Jeff Goins

To write is human, to edit is divine. - Stephen King

The secret to editing your work is simple: you need to become its reader instead of its writer. - Zadie Smith

Editing is a kind of creative activity where, in a perfect world, an author and an editor find that elusive oneness to understand each other intuitively. - Sahara Sanders

Editors are extremely fallible people, all of them. Don’t put too much trust in them. - Maxwell Perkins

For the relationship to work, the writer and editor must respect each other’s expertise and passion. - Rebecca Wenrich Wheeler