Although I am a writer, I've avoided writing contests. From what I've read, it seems that the judges' literary preferences take precedent over other considerations.

I've reproduced a blog entry from playwright and screenwriter, Charles Deemer who's been through this "meat-grinding process" as both a judge and contest many times:

"Young writers usually take contests too seriously. If they aren’t a finalist, they assume the fault is with themselves. Now it might be. Maybe they aren’t writing at a professional level yet. But it may be something else entirely! It may be that what they write does not connect to the particular judge. Period. Nothing more. Another judge may think their work is extraordinary. To get out of this quagmire, the young writer must learn how to be his/her own toughest critic and write to high personal standards. Then forget what everyone else says, judges or otherwise. Be your own toughest audience.

Contests are a mess -- and I haven’t even mentioned the influence of politics in the major awards. But doing well in contests is an important stepping stone in building a literary career. Winning a national playwriting contest as a graduate student changed my focus from fiction to drama. I’ve smiled all three times I’ve been an OBA finalist (before frowning when I didn’t win) – but actually, until I myself became a judge, until I met with two other judges who had fine credentials but very different tastes from my own, I didn’t realize that these affairs were mostly about the tastes of judges. Change the judges and you change the results.

So what’s a writer to do? Enter the contests the same way, the exact same way, you buy a lottery ticket. Because that’s what it amounts to. Contests are a crapshoot. In the beginning of a career, the credits from doing well in them are important even if the monetary reward isn’t much. Later, when you’ve outlived the need for a resume, winning or losing has no practical, only personal, consequences.

You’re going to win a few and lose a few in any writing career. Enjoy winning and don’t fret losing. Don’t take either – especially winning! – too seriously.

For every judge who thinks you’re hot shit, there’s another judge who thinks you stink".

Charles Deemer's Blog is found on the right side under "Favourite Blogs".