Go Fish! Summer Writing Contest Announcement

Coffee and Critique

Members Only

Summer Writing Contest

 

Holy mackerel! It's contest time!

 

Wanted:  Short stories, essays, and creative nonfiction pieces with a fish-related theme.

Quota (aka word count): Between 500-1,000 words.   Entries shorter or longer will be thrown back.

 

Include the word count on page one.

Castoff date (aka deadline): Tuesday, Sep 3.

 

Contest open to Members of Coffee and Critique only.   

 

No Fee to enter.

 

Every entry must have a title. 

 

One entry per person.

 

 All entries should be typed double-spaced, 12-pitch font.

 Except for the title, no name or other identification should appear on your submission.

 On the day of the contest (Tuesday, Sep 3):

Place your entry in the folder marked ENTRIES.

Fill out a 3x5 card (I’ll provide them) with your name and the title of your submission.

Place completed card in the envelope marked CARDS WITH TITLES AND NAMES.

Readings will be done at random by volunteers.

 

If you pick your story out of the pool of entries, toss it back and snag another. 

Judging will be done by your piers. No critiques will be given the day of the contest.

Score each entry between one and ten (no decimals), with ten being the highest.

To put all entries on equal footing, score your own submission with a ten.

After all readings are completed, scores will be tallied.

 

Winners will be announced by the contest coordinator, who will not enter the contest.

Prizes: Certificates will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

 

(No promises, but if I can dig up a few clams from the bottom of my purse, a modest cash award will be given for 1st place.)

Bonus: Entries may be considered for inclusion in the C&C anthology.

 

Hook your reader!

Pen something a-lure-ing!

Put some mussel in your writing!

You’ll shore have fun!

 

Agent Nathan Bransford's Blog Contest

Here is great brain exercise for the new year. Enter literary agent Nathan Bransford's The Secret Year Teen Diary Extravaganza. Write a diary entry a la teenage angst (not to exceed 500 words), and you may be a winner. You have until 4:00 PM Pacific Time on Wednesday January 6th.

From the website: The GRAND PRIZE ULTIMATE WINNER of the THE SECRET YEAR Teen Diary Writing Contest Extravaganza will win:


- A signed copy of THE SECRET YEAR (pending winner's proximity to the US of A)
- Their choice of a query critique, partial critique, or 10 minute phone conversation/consultation/dish session
- The pride of knowing OMG you are like the greatest writer for teens ever.

Runners up may get a critique as well.

Glimmer Train Contest for Unfinished Stories: Best Start Fiction Contest

If you're like me, finishing a short story can seem an almost insurmountable challenge. The pressure to get it all done perfectly can be paralyzing. But Glimmer Train has a contest for the story stuck among us.

Their Best Start Fiction Contest asks for an excerpt from your story. It doesn't have to be a finished work! Send in the part you have perfected. I have no more excuses. Damn you, Glimmer Train.

This is an outstanding literary magazine, and if you're a short story writer, I heartily recommend you subscribe to see the great work out there today. I'm off to renew mine.

Contest Deadlines are Midnight Pacific Time:
1st Contest Period: September 1 - September 30
Next Contest Period: December 1 - December 31

Length: 1,000 words maximum

Reading Fee: $10 per story

Prize: $50 for the best 50 story excerpts

From the website:
"Best Start is meant to encourage new writers to tackle that story!
This category is different from our others in that the piece should be an engaging and coherent narrative, but it does not need to be a complete story; it needs to be an important part of a story in progress. You could think of it as a writing sample, but we hope you'll feel free to reach a bit. Maybe you're experimenting with a new voice, developing a character, working on clarity in a complex bit of plot or trying to make your dialogue believable and significant. You could be playing with point of view, working to build tension, or looking for a satisfying ending. Or you might be two pages into something brand new.

What we want is to read is an engaging slice of a story you're excited about writing.
All pieces should be original fiction and not have appeared in a print publication.
No fiction for children, please.
It's fine to submit more than one piece."

Start your submission here.

Win a Restaurant in Essay Contest

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Ever dream of owning your own restaurant? Kyle Caballero is offering the public the chance to win his in an essay contest.

For the $200 entry fee you get to explain in 250 words why you should own a restaurant. The winner gets Caballero's Landeck Tavern in Landeck, OH. They will start accepting entries on Monday, August 24, 2009.

The deadline is October 31, 2009 and the contest will be judged by "an independent group of journalists." You can check out more about it on his website winmyrestaurant.com. The winner will be informed on November 25, 2009. Be sure to read the official rules if you're interested.

Esquire Writing Contest

Mental Health for Writers has a great post on an Esquire writing contest. You can win $2500 for your fiction story. And no entry fee. The deadline is August 1, 2009.

Real Simple Life Lessons Contest

Creative Writing Contests reports that Real Simple Magazine is sponsoring their Second-

Annual Life Lessons Essay Contest.

Write a 1500 word essay about a moment that made you realize you were a grownup, and submit it by September 7, 2009. The winning entry will be published in the magazine in 2010

The winner also gets round-trip tickets for two to New York City, hotel accommodations for two nights, Broadway play tickets, a lunch with Real Simple editors, and a $3000 prize.

Check out last year's winner, A Witness to Grace, for inspiration.

Redbook Silver Lining Writing Contest

Heard about this from Patsy Bell. Thanks for the heads up, Patsy.

Redbook is sponsoring a Silver Lining Writing Contest in conjunction with the Cup of Comfort Series. You could win $1000 and publication in Redbook for your best story about overcoming an obstacle or hardship. Essays should be between 1000-2000 words. Submit them to the Cup of Comfort website by May 15, 2009 for your chance to win. And, as always, be sure to read the fine print.

Family Circle Fiction Writing Contest 2009

Starting March 1, 2009, Family Circle will accept entries in their Family Circle 2009 Fiction Writing Contest.

From their website:
"Do you love to write? Enter our 2009 fiction writing contest.

One grand prize winner will receive $750, publication in Family Circle, a certificate for one online mediabistro.com course (valued at up to $610), and a one-year mediabistro.com AvantGuild membership ($49 value). Two runners-up will each receive $250 and a one-year mediabistro.com AvantGuild membership ($49 value), and will have his or her story published on familycircle.com. To enter, send an original fictional short story of no more than 2,500 words to:

Family Circle Fiction Writing Contest
c/o Family Circle Magazine
375 Lexington Avenue
9th Floor, New York, NY 10017

All entries must be typed, double-spaced, and page-numbered on 8-1/2-x-11-inch paper, and must include your name, address, daytime phone number, and e-mail address (optional). No purchase necessary to enter or win. Contest begins March 1, 2009, and ends August 31, 2009. All entries must be postmarked on or before August 31, 2009, and received by September 7, 2009. Entries must be original, unpublished, and may not have won any prize or award. Up to two entries per individual will be accepted, but each entry must be a unique short story. Open to amateur writers who are legal residents of the 50 United States, or the District of Columbia, age 21 or older. Void where prohibited. Operator: Meredith Corporation."

Be sure to read the rules before submitting and check out the winning essay from 2008 for pointers.

Baby Boomer Writing Contest Sharing 70s Memories

Vintage: Family Gathering, 1975 by freeparking Creative Commons

GRAND Magazine, BoomerWomenSpeak.com and the National Association of Baby Boomer Women are sponsoring a writing contest about sharing memories of that infamous decade, the 70s. (Forgive me for that school picture with the red shirt and gold lame vest).

Dotsie Bregel, NABBW founder says, “Give us 500 words about your life during the ‘70s—who was there; what was going on; how old were you; why was this moment in time so special—and if you win, we’ll give you the ultimate prize; $250 dollars and membership to the National Association of Baby Boomer Women, the only association devoted to addressing all issues concerning Baby Boomer women today.”

"Entries can be submitted to contest@nabbw.com with Memories from the ‘70s in the subject line. Entries must be 500 words or less and must be sent as an attachment in a Word document by October 31, 2008. Contestants should include their name, email address and a short bio (no more than 75 words) at the top of the attached Word document entry."

Harlequin Mills and Boon's Feel The Heat Writing Contest

Staring at the Sun by LaserGuided Creative Commons

Author Cindy Proctor-King has a notice on her blog about Harlequin Mills and Boon's Feel The Heat Writing Competition.

The rules say authors should submit their first chapter, up to 5,000 words and a synopsis. The novel is targeted for the Modern Heat line with it's upbeat voice, hip audience (18-35), and alpha-male heroes.

The winner gets an editor for a year, and two runners-up will get critiques of their first chapter and an editorial phone consultation. No entry fee.

7th Annual Saturday Writers' Short Story Contest 2008

It's time for Saturday Writers Annual Writers' Short Story Contest

Submission Guidelines:

DEADLINE: Postmarked by September 15, 2008



ENTRY FEE: $5 per entry, maximum of three entries. Submissions without entry fee or inadequate fee will be discarded or returned to contestant if SASE is provided.



PRIZES: 1st Place $100

2nd Place $50

3rd Place $25

4th Place – 10th certificates



RULES:

Open subject, open genre. (No pornography or gore.)



Unpublished at time of submission, original work of contestant.



Standard manuscript form: 8 1/2 x 11 paper, typed and double-spaced, pages numbered and title of entry on every page, 12 point Times New Roman.



No more than 2,008 words, excluding title.



Two copies of each entry, paper clips only—no staples.



Cover sheet for each story, with contestant’s name, address, phone number, email (if you have one), and title of entry. (Name may only appear on cover sheet, not manuscript.)



Postmarked no later than September 15, 2008. DO NOT SEND BY CERTIFIED MAIL!



Mail flat, not folded, with sufficient postage to:



Saturday Writers 2008 Short Story Contest

c/o Tricia Sanders

90 Westwood Trails

Foristell, MO 63348

Checks payable to: Saturday Writers.



Top ten winners may be given the opportunity to have a story included (one-time rights) in Saturday Writers’ literary anthology, published the following year.



Contest is open to everyone, both members of Saturday Writers and non-members. For a list of winners, check our website: www.saturdaywriters.org after October 31, 2008.



Decision of the judges is final. Not responsible for lost or misdirected entries. Winners will be announced in the Saturday Writers newsletter. Manuscripts will not be returned.

WOW! Women On Writing Spring 2008 Flash Fiction Contest

Lightning on Columbia River by Phatman Creative Commons


Seal Press is sponsoring WOW Women on Writing's Spring 2008 Flash Fiction Contest. There is a small entry fee, but lots of prizes for 35 writers who enter and win. Plus and agent reads your writing (hello, foot in the door for 5 bucks).

Word Count: 250-500 words
Entry Fee: $5 to enter, $10 to include a critique of your entry


Deadline: May 31, 2008 Midnight, Pacific Time
Guest Judge: Literary Agent Wendy Sherman of Wendy Sherman Associates
Subject: Open prompt - No theme
Prizes:
1st: $200, publication on WOW, and other goodies
2nd: $150, publication on WOW, and other goodies
3rd: $100, publication on WOW, and other goodies
7 Runners up will get goodies and publication on WOW
25 will get Honorable Mentions and their name listed on WOW

Recent and soon-to-be-published titles from Seal Press include: Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir by Jennette Fulda; Own It!: The Ups and Downs of Homebuying for Women Who Go it Alone by Jennifer Musselman; and Open: Love, Sex, and Life in an Open Marriage by Jenny Block. (Wow, indeed, on that last one). They are a Publisher's Weekly Publisher of the Year for 2007.

"Favorite Grandparent Memory" Writing Contest

The picture is of my grandmother, Vera Allen, after a hard day as a Harvey Girl. Poor women. I remember squirting her with a hose and hiding from her when she babysat me. She never minded any of the mischief inflicted on her.

Grand Magazine and The National Association of Baby Boomer Women (NABBW) are sponsoring an essay contest on your favorite grandparent memory.

The contest is open to Boomer men and women.


Prize: $250, membership in NABBW, and publication in the September/October edition of Grand Magazine.
Length: 500 words or less

Deadline: July 1, 2008
From the Press Release:
According to Dotsie Bregel, founder of the NABBW, “We know everyone has a favorite story tucked away about their “Granny,” or “Poppa.” With boomers embracing grandparenting, we thought it would be fun to consider what we boomers enjoyed most about our own grandparents.”

Entries can be submitted to contest@nabbw.com with FAVORITE GRANDPARENT MEMORY in the subject line. Entries must be 500 words or less and must be sent as an attachment in a Word document by July 1, 2008. Contestants should include their name, email address and a short bio (no more than 75 words) at the top of the attached Word document entry."

Friday Fun: Harry Potter Writing Contest

Amazon is sponsoring a Harry Potter writing contest that will transport a lucky fan aged 13 or older to England to get up close and personal with "The Tales of Beedle Bard," the limited edition Rowling book they bought at auction for a hefty sum.

Contestants must answer one of the following questions:

What songs do wizards use to celebrate birthdays?
What other sports do wizards play besides Quidditch?
What have you learned from the Harry Potter series that you use in everyday life?

There are two age categories:

13-17

18 and up

The contest runs from April 9-22, 2008. Semi-finalists will be chosen and then Amazon.com customers will vote on finalists and the Grand Prize Winner. The winner will get a trip to England for them and guest to read the coveted book for a weekend.

I am composing my wizarding birthday song now. . .

Friday Freelance Link Salad - A Little Of This, A Little Of That

"Luke, I am your father" Creative Commons John Vetterli

Calling all the Star Trek fans who have a copy of the captain's chair in front of the t.v., all the Star Wars fans with Mr. Potato Head - Darth Tater (hey, he's cute. So are Spud Trooper and Artoo-Potatoo), and comic book fans a little too much into Power Girl. The true story quarterly Fray Magazine wants Geek stories. They'll take interviews with famous geeks too.

I sooooo qualify for this one. The deadline is this month - not sure when. And they don't pay. But you don't really have to pay us geeks to talk about our stuff, do ya?

And taking a wild 180, Writer Mama says Cup of Comfort is calling for submissions.

In the I-blinked-a-lot-when-I-read-this category, the World Wrestling Federation is launching WWE Magazine for kids 6-14. Yahoo is launching a new women's site for big girls age 25-34. (Please. You couldn't just round it off to 35?)

And in the electronic arena, Popmatters.com is launching a Kindle-only edition of the pop culture mag for the much-publicized ereader while a new online magazine called The Wall Tweet Journal (no, I'm not kidding) is coming to help Twitter users make the most of their social networking.

According to The Knightly News blog, Christian Women Online is sponsoring a no entry fee contest called "Her Life Reflected" (click on the picture in the blog for details) about how a christian mom's life has reflected God. The deadline is April 21st.

Hope I hit at least one of your buttons. Now I'm off to buy Artoo Potatoo. I wouldn't want Darth Tater and Spud Trooper to get lonely.

Query on.

Bookhabit.com's Unpublished Writing Competition - The Contest that Pays You to Enter

Photo by Ian Wilson Creative Commons


Bookhabit.com is a website that partners with authors to sell their books online. The website keeps 60% and the author gets 40%. All books are priced between $2.50 and $5.00, with sale price determined by the popularity of the novel.

Now they are hosting Bookhabit.com's Unpublished Writing Competition. From now through May 5-11, writers can upload their book to the website and the 5 most popular books of the week plus one wild card go through to a 2nd round of the contest. Ten books from Round 2 go on to Round 3, where the winner is selected by a panel of judges. The books earn points during the first rounds from reader ratings and number of downloads.

The best part - you get paid.
All readers have to pay to download your book, and you share in the revenue. Is this an attempt to drum up more downloading readers for Bookhabit as you beg all your friends and family to download your book? Plus get the website a double serving of publicity from every author who promotes bookhabit.com on their blog or website? I'm pretty sure it is. But the prize is $5,000 and depending on your book, you may earn yourself enough for a nice steak dinner - or at least breakfast at Mickey D's.

What should you enter?
So if you have a manuscript that you think is too quirky, too long, too short, or too niche for the publishing world, you might want to consider entering. They're taking both fiction (any genre) and non-fiction. Manuscripts must be at least 50,000 words long.

For example, one winner this week is a romance novel, and one is a how-to book for new motorcyclists. Self-published books can be entered as long as they sold less than 500 copies. I wouldn't enter a book you haven't shopped around first to agents and editors, but if you feel your baby was misunderstood when you sent it out into the cold, cruel publishing world, you might want to bypass big publishing and go straight to the people - at least those willing to pay. Power to your peeps! Uh, not the yellow, sticky ones - your people. Good luck to everyone who enters.

Query on.

"Return to Luna" Writing Contest - No entry fee

SFScope has a post about a new short story contest sponsored by Hadley Rille Books and the National Space Society (NSS) called "Return to Luna." They want science fiction stories that capture the pioneering spirit of a moon base. Stories should be set in the near future 50-150 years. Check their submission guidelines for more details.

Entry deadline: June 15, 2008
Length: 2000-6000 words
Prize: Winning stories will be published in an anthology

And remember this great advice about entering writing contests from the Novel and Short Story Writer's Market blog.

Lake of the Ozarks Writers Guild Playwrighting Contest

The Lake of the Ozarks Writers Guild is sponsoring their annual playwrighting contest, Origins 4. They want one-act plays of about 30 -45 minutes. Three winning plays will be produced by the Camden Museum Players. All plays submitted will receive critique comments.

The theme for the contest is "hope." For information call Herron at 573-964-5181. Their website also has last year's guidelines. The guidelines for this year may differ, so be sure to email or call for info.

2008 Wabash Prize for Fiction

Creative Writing Contests has submission guidelines for the 2008 Wabash Prize for Fiction from Purdue University. They want a short story or stories of similar theme up to 10,000 words.

First Prize: $1000
Entry fee: $10

StoryQuarterly Wants Fiction and Nonfiction Love Stories

Thanks for the contest heads up from Tricia S.

StoryQuarterly announces the SQ Love Story Contest. They want any kind of love story - love for a person, object, or idea. Open to fiction and nonfiction entries, the contest offers:

First Prize of $2,500
Second Prize of $1,500
Third Prize of $750
Ten Finalists each will receive $100

Entry fee: $20 but it includes access to Narrative Backstage.

Deadline for entries: March 31, 2008.