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.

Win a Restaurant in Essay Contest

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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.

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.

Cup of Comfort Seeking Dad Stories and Real Simple Wants Life Lessons

Write by The Trial Creative Commons

The Clermont Christian Writers Group says Cup of Comfort is looking for stories that honor fathers.



They also have a post on an essay contest from Real Simple Magazine asking for 1,500 word essays on life lessons.

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.

Writing Contest for Essay, Poetry, and Short Fiction

"Write" by the trial Creative Commons

New Letters, the University of Missouri-Kansas City's prestigious literary magazine, is sponsoring writing contests for essay, poetry, and short fiction submissions.

The contests:
The $1,500 New Letters Prize for Poetry
for the best group of three to six poems

The $1,500 Dorothy Churchill Cappon Prize for the Essay
for the best essay (not to exceed 8,000 words)

The $1,500 Alexander Patterson Cappon Prize for Fiction
for the best short story (not to exceed 8,000 words)

Entry fee: $15 (but this includes a subscription to New Letters)

Postmark Deadline: May 18, 2008

"The Nation's" Student Writing Contest

The White House by Joshua Davis Creative Commons

According to the Politics and Government Blog of the University of Puget Sound, The Nation is sponsoring a student writing contest for high school and college students.

To enter the contest, students must write an essay answering the question: What have you learned from a personal experience that the next president should know before setting the agenda for the country?

Prizes: Winners in each category will receive $1000 and publication in The Nation. Five Finalists will receive $200 and online publication.

Word Count: 800 words or less

Deadline: May 31, 2008

Mail essays in the body of the email to: studentprize@thenation.com

"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."

Writing Contest Wants Boomer Women's Favorite Concert Memories

Photo by Lonely Moose Creative Commons

The National Association of Baby Boomer Women and the website http://www.boomerwomenspeak.com/ are sponsoring a "Favorite Concert Memories" essay contest. No entry fee.

From the press release: "The winner of the Favorite Concert Memories contest will receive $100 and a free membership (or free renewal of their membership) in the National Association of Baby Boomer Women.

Additionally, the winning story will be appear in the “Our Voices” section at http://www.boomerwomenspeak.com/, an affiliate Web site of the NABBW. Baby Boomer women can submit their Favorite Concert Memories to contest@nabbw.com with FAVORITE CONCERT MEMORIES in the subject line. . . .Contestants should include their name, email address and a short bio at the top of the attached Word document entry – and not in the body of the email."

• They want the entry sent in a word document as an attachment.


• Length: up to 500 words


• Deadline: April 15, 2008

America Essay Contest - The Case for God

America, The National Catholic Weekly has an essay contest focusing on the theme, "The Case for God." No entry fee.

From the website:
"The winning manuscript will approach that topic or the various issues surrounding it with creativity, precise argumentation and literary flair. Essays should be written with a general audience in mind, but can be from any perspective, including personal, professional, academic, apologetic or devotional."

• Length: Entries should be unpublished works up to 2,500 words


• Prize: $3,000


• Deadline: June 16, 2008

Writing Contest List from Pikes Peak Library District

Colorado's Pikes Peak Library District has an extensive list of writing contests posted on its site.

For example, it's again time to submit humor essays to the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition. The deadline is February 17, 2008. No entry fee!

Highlights for Children is also having a short story contest for futuristic stories. Entries can be up to 800 words and must be postmarked between January 1 - January 31st. No entry fee.