Motivation is a prime factor of several essay contests. Simply getting writers to write and stop procrastinating is an objective all its own, which sometimes offers other benefits for writers who successfully motivate others. A prime example of a writing contest where motivation is the winning factor is National Novel Writing Month, known as NaNoWriMo. The goal is to wake perpetually procrastinating writers from their proverbial slumber to create a 50,000-page novel in 30 days.
A goal that should be with any writer whenever he writes is that of targeting a specific audience. Essay contests of all kinds facilitate this skill by giving contestants a specific topic to write about and an audience to write it to. Academic essay contests or creative essay contests both have standards for targeting audiences, ensuring that each contestant is weary of his tone, voice and objectiveness.
Contests, while competitive and notoriously selfish, may also have objectives that help the greater good of a certain region, country or even the world. Similar to running a marathon for raising cancer awareness, an essay contest can raise awareness all the same. For instance, the Creative Writing Contest to Raise Awareness around Children's Mental Health and Help Reduce Stigma charges writers with the task of addressing specific aspects of children's mental, behavioral or emotional health.
Just like with contests of any kind, contestants often seek recognition through their writing. Giving the proper platform to be seen, aspiring writers take part in competitions for the sport of winning and being seen, or rather, read. Some essay contests may promise the essay winner a chance for publication or their manuscript reviewed by a high-ranking agent, such as Nathan Bransford's "First Paragraph Challenge," which listed one of the prizes as, "The pride of knowing your paragraph was like the platonic ideal of first paragraphs it was so awesome."