Don't Miss this One: The All Write Now! Conference at SEMO July 16

SEMO
All Write Now! Location

If you haven't signed up for the All Write Now! Conference already, you still have time.

This year's Conference at SEMO in Cape Girardeau, MO, will be July 16. Conference organizers have scheduled a variety of speakers including agents, editors, publishers, and award-winning writers. Other highlights include several contests, one-on-one critiques, a slush-pile workshop, on-site book sales, and door prizes!

The contest deadline is quickly approaching.

Writers of poetry, short stories, essays, middle grade, or flash fiction works have until May 15th to submit.

The good news is:

You don't have to attend the conference to submit and win!!!

The entry fee is modest (only $10 per entry).

And . . . previously published works are eligible to win!

Read complete guidelines here.

Here are the AWN! deadlines to watch:  

May 1st - June 27th - Standard registration is $85

May 15th - Last day to submit writing contest entries

June 15th - Last day to receive the group discount rate at the Pear Tree Inn. 

June 20th - Last day to submit sponsor ads (need setup time for the brochure)

June 25th - Last day to submit critique pieces, which cost an additional fee. 

June 27th - Last day to register for the conference and sign up for free pitches. 

July 1st - Last day to request the bookstore order your books.

July 16th - Last day to have pieces copied and ready for the Slush Pile Workshop.

For complete information, including names of faculty and schedule, visit the AWN website.

Missouri Writers' Guild Flash Fiction Contest

MISSOURI WRITERS’ GUILD – FLASH FICTION CONTEST

1. Flash Fiction – Get to the point in 500 words or less. Subject is open, but no gore or pornography.
2. Deadline for entry—submissions must be postmarked no later than September 30, 2010.

3. Entry fee: $10 for non-members, $8 for members (make sure your dues are current.) Maximum of three entries per person.

4. Checks payable to: Missouri Writers’ Guild.

5. Prizes: 1^st place - $100, 2^nd place - $50, 3^rd place - $25. Three honorable mentions will receive certificates.

6. Short stories must be in English, unpublished at the time of submission, and original work of the contestant.

7. Contestants retain all rights to their stories. Standard manuscript format: 8 1/2 x 11 paper, typed and double-spaced on one side of the paper, pages numbered, title of entry on every page, 12 point Times New Roman. Paper clip pages together. Contestants name or other identifying information should not appear anywhere on manuscript.

8. Attach a separate cover sheet and include: story title, contestant’s name, address, e-mail, phone number, and MWG chapter name (if applicable). Do NOT send by certified mail!

9. Mail entry fee and two copies of each entry, flat, not folded, by September 30 (postmark) to:

Tricia L. Sanders
Missouri Writers’ Guild – Flash Fiction Contest
90 Westwood Trails
Foristell, MO 63348

10. Stories exceeding word limit, not having adequate postage, or not adhering to contest guidelines will be disqualified and entry fee will not be returned. Decision of judge is final. Not responsible for lost or misdirected entries. Stories will not be returned. For a list of winners, visit our website in late October 2010: www.missouriwritersguild.org Certificates and prizes will be mailed by the end of October.

Guideposts Writing Contest for Writers' Workshop

Faith by Lili Vieira de Carvalho Creative Commons

The Christian Writers Marketplace has deets on a Guideposts contest.

Fifteen writers will get a free week at the Guideposts Writers Workshop October 13 - 17 to study up on how to write for Guideposts.

Correction: The workshop is in Rye, New York and includes travel costs. Sounds like a great deal.

Submit a story (2000 words or less) by June 24, 2008 and explain a life-changing experience where faith made a difference.

Green is Good - In the Environment and My Pocket

Places for Writers has info on a green themed writing contest with a nice prize - $500. Check it out.

Wired Art Writing Contest in St. Louis

Here is a press release from the St. Louis Writers Guild on a new contest.

WIRED ART WRITING CONTEST OFFERS PUBLICATION AND PUBLIC READING OF WINNING ENTRIES!

In a unique collaboration, St. Louis Writers Guild, Art World Association, South County Times, and the Wired Coffee café are co-hosting Wired Art, a writing contest for art-inspired poems, stories and essays. The artwork was created by members of Art World Association and is currently displayed at the Wired Coffee café, 3860 S. Lindbergh, Sunset Hills. The public is invited to visit the cafe, enjoy great food and drinks, enjoy the art, and select one work on which to base a poem or short story or essay of up to 500 words.

Nine writing entries will be chosen by judges who are members of St. Louis Writers Guild as winners. Beginning in March, one winning writing entry and the art that inspired it will be published by South County Times.

Also, on Tuesday, March 11, SLWG's regular Open Mic Night at Wired Coffee, from 7 to 9 p.m., will begin with live readings of the Wired Art writing contest winning entries.

Contest deadline: February 26. For complete guidelines, including the printable contest entry form, visit: http://www.stlwritersguild.org/wordpress/?p=297

St. Louis Writers Guild's Wired Coffee Open Mic Night takes place every 2nd Tuesday at Wired Coffee in Sunset Hills. It is free and open to the public. Register to attend or read.

Novel Contests Roundup by C. Hope Clark On W.O.W

Got a novel manuscript burning a hole in your pocket? C. Hope Clark has a great article in her W.O.W. column about novel contests you can submit to while waiting for agents/editors to respond to your queries. She lists competitions for entire novels, excerpts, first chapters, and even first lines.

Sneak Peak at Missouri Writers' Guild Conference Contests

The annual Missouri Writers' Guild Conference always hosts a contest for published works from the previous year for members of the Guild. I'll be posting the categories over the next few weeks.

The big news this year is that different chapters/sponsors are also holding contests open to anyone who has registered and paid for the conference, not just members of the Guild. Entries for these contests can be published or unpublished works.

I'll be doing a series of posts profiling each chapter/sponsor contest, as well as the members-only Guild contest.

There are seventeen different contests open to anyone attending the conference. Entries must be postmarked between January 1 and March 1, 2008, so get them ready but don't send them off until the new year.

The first contest I'll cover is for my chapter of the Missouri Writers' Guild, Saturday Writers:

Saturday Writers presents the Flash Fiction Contest: Send us your fiction from 99-500 words. No excessive gore or violence. The entry fee is $5. I will post further details on where to send entry fees later.

Send entries to: Saturday Writers Flash Fiction Contest (Don't start submitting until January 1, 2008)

c/o Tricia Sanders
90 Westwood Trails
Foristell, MO 63348

Contests and Submission Opportunties with Deadlines in November

It is Friday and it is good. Today I'm doing a round up of all the former blog posts (that I can find) with November deadlines. Sweet Father Time is taking is scythe to November days. Run like hell from the old bugger and get your submissions in.

St. Martin’s Minotaur/ Mystery Writers of America Best First Crime Novel Competition

Call for Stories Appreciating Black Fathers

Call for Holiday Tradition Stories

Sauce Magazine Seeks Food Essays

Chase the Dream Contest

P.S. - I'll continue the posts on starting a critique group next week.

Sonora Review Short-Short Contest, American Short Fiction Contest, and a New Magazine

Thanks to Tricia S. for these announcements. Both contests have December 1st deadlines and the second one has major prize money and a correspondingly large entry fee.

Sonora Review Short-Short Contest
Prize: $250 and publication. Ten finalists will also be considered for publication.
Judge: David Means

Quoted from their Guidelines:
"For our purposes, "short-short" means 1,000 words or less. Stories over 1,000 words will not be considered. No previously published works, or works forthcoming elsewhere. A $10 fee is required; entrants may submit up to three stories (each 1,000 words max.) with each $10 fee, payable by check or money order made out to Sonora Review. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable, but fees are non-refundable. Cover letter must include name, address, phone number, and title(s) of stories submitted."

Postmark deadline: December 1, 2007.

Send entries to:

Sonora Review Contest
Department of English
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721

American Short Fiction Contest
The Literary Magazine American Short Fiction invites submissions for its Short Story Contest.
Length: Stories up to 6,000 words
Entry Fee: $20
First Prize: $1,000 and publication
Second Prize: $500
Deadline: December 1, 2007

New Magazine Looking for Writers, Stories

NOW ME! A Magazine for Women is looking for inspiring stories from women who've overcome "impossible odds."

They are also seeking writers for this soon to debut magazine. Submit your resume and published writing samples for consideration.

Seventeen Magazine Fiction Writing Contest for Teens

Seventeen Magazine is hosting a fiction writing contest for its readers. The task is to finish a Meg Cabot story with 350 words that represent your personality and preserve the story line.

Deadline: Entries must be postmarked by January 2, 2008 and arrive by January 7.

According to Meg Cabot's website, the prize is $2,500, possible publication in Seventeen, and your name used for a character in her next book.

Win Books for End of Summer Reading

I'm all out of summer reading, but a plethora of contests from authors and publishers are just begging to give books away. Check out this contest from Berkley/Jove Authors and enter for your chance to win ten books.

If you don't read romance, check out this list of book giveaways at BookLoons to find your cup of literary tea.