I think for me my lack of confidence in my writing adds too much pressure for me to be able to do contests. A lot of it is simply my own anxiety and I think being in a creative writing class that was so anti-fantasy/science fiction which is what I write. The worst was when the teacher asked me what I was currently writing and I said a fairytale because it was what I was working for a friend and he spent a good portion of the lesson talking about how fairytales are obsolete and writers today should write such things. It was a bit embarrassing (aka a lot) since it was in front of the whole class. I had such a miserable experience that I struggled for a long time to write. My goal eventually is to finish a contest.

I do usually finish Nanowrimo though this year I didn't get anywhere close. I had a strange November though.

I'm there right now where I'm working on too many stories. I'm basically writing a bit of each until eventually, hopefully, one will jump out at me and I'll focus on one and finish it. That's usually what happens.

Having a group of writers to exchange ideas is always helpful. Also just seeing other writers writing can be a great motivator.