I enjoy entering contests, whether they're for beaded jewelry or writing. I find that deadlines motivate me to complete a project. I also enjoy the challenge of using a new technique or exploring a different genre.
That said, I'm very selective about which contests I enter. I try to choose the contests that work best for me and my goals. How do I do that? I recently wrote a guest blog post for Brittany's Best titled Finding the Right Craft Contest that explains some of the questions you might want to ask before entering a contest. The post is geared towards crafters, although some of the questions do apply to other types of contests.
Once you've decided what kind of contest you want to enter, take a look at my latest contest list for beading and jewelry making contests. If you're a writer, try newsletters like FundsforWriters and Writer's Relief or magazines like Poets & Writers for contest listings. Good luck!
P.S. Pictured here is a bracelet I entered in a 2010 contest where I was a finalist. You can see some of the other entries on the K. Gottfried website. (It's hard to be upset about losing when you see some of the big names in that list!)