Writing etiquette

This is the last week I go short. Next week I commence work on the 3rd draft of The Black Hours and all those little amusements will be put away (the Wii included). I’ve been quite productive over the last three weeks of going part-time but at some point I’ll need to think seriously about homes for my little creations.

And that’s where writing etiquette comes in.

You see, my mum is adamant that one of the stories I produced over the last few weeks should be submitted to a writing competition, and perhaps she’s right. Writing competitions are a great place to get your name bandied about, and hell if they don’t provide a little bit of writerly income.
So with that in mind, is there such a thing as writing etiquette when submitting a short story to a short story competition? And is there more so in the situation of a novelist already established at a major publishing house?

Over the last couple of years I’ve heard tell of novelists (including some bestselling authors) who entered short story competitions under pen names. The most infamous case was the competition judged by Zadie Smith – one that degenerated into a complete debacle, especially when it was revealed that several prominent writers were amongst those who had entered and had been judged as writing poorly. That they entered under pen names probably saved both their blushes and the competition organisers’, but it all looked a little shady. Entering under a pen name seems a bit cloak and dagger (if you’re trying not to persuade a judge to flatter your short fiction entry) and a bit dishonest (if you trying to hide your reputation if it all goes horribly wrong). If I was to enter one, I’d just use my usual name. Why be so secretive?

But there’s more to writing etiquette than just that.

When I was entering the novel writing competition for Channel 4 way back in 2004, if I’d discovered that several bestselling writers had also entered, I would have been a bit put out. After all, writing competitions are the best way for unknowns to become known. It’s like watching a TV talent competition only to discover half of those short-listed, already have a blossoming music career but just want a higher profile. It’s a bit of a cheat.
Yet these days, most writing competitions stipulate no eligibility criteria when it comes to who can or who can’t enter. For example, Writing Magazine now allows any writer to enter their monthly short story competitions. It used to be, I think, limited to writers who earn less than 10k a year from their writing. With this criteria dumped, I guess if you’re a successful writer and you can turn your hand to a short story, the chances of you winning are higher than someone who is a relative novice. It all seems a bit unfair (especially when you're paying to enter) but there it is.

So is there etiquette to these things? Even though it is not written, are established writers not expected to enter these competitions, or is it perfectly acceptable?

As I look for a home for the four/five stories I’ve written recently, an answer to this question would be most, most helpful…

(By the way, I’m not expecting a right or wrong answer to this – I just value all your opinions on the matter!)