Monthly Archives: October 2009

The First Line Winter ’09 Writing Contest

Posted on October 15, 2009 | Leave a comment

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: November 1, 2009

Guidelines: http://www.thefirstline.com

“Waiting for change always seems to take longer than you would expect.”

Write a short story between 300 and 3,000 words that begins with this line, and enter it in the First Line Winter ’09 Contest. You must begin with this line, and you may not change it in any way. It’s interesting to read the gamut of stories that evolve from the same beginning. The First Line runs four contests each year;  winners are published in The First Line anthologies and receive token cash prizes. This is a fun contest to get the creative gears turning. The Fall anthology is available for pre-order now, or you can read or listen to some of the winning entries online.

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Posted in Contests, Contests November

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Blue Mountain Arts Fifteenth Biannual Poetry Contest

Posted on October 8, 2009 | Leave a comment

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: December 1, 2009

Guidelines: http://www.sps.com/poetry/index.html

Blue Mountain Arts is a longtime publisher of greeting cards, books, bookmarks, and other items that help people express their feelings and stay in touch. They are looking for original poetry, preferably non-rhyming, that expresses an emotion or sentiment, or is inspirational. Winning entries will be published online. Prizes are $300, $150, and $50. Click on the link above to submit as many entries as you would like using the online submission form.

In addition, Blue Mountain Arts takes regular submissions for their greeting card and book market. You may request writer’s guidelines through the Contact Us page, using “Send Me Guidelines” in the subject line, or send an SASE to their mailing address.

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Posted in Contests, Contests December

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Writers of the Future Contest

Posted on October 1, 2009 | 1 Comment

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: December 31, 2009

Genre: Speculative Fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy

Guidelines: http://www.writersofthefuture.com/rules.htm

If you’re a new writer, and you’ve not been professionally published in a novel, more than one novelette, or more than three short stories, then you can enter this popular contest. It is judged by some of the biggest names in science fiction today, such as Kevin Anderson, Orson Scott Card, and Anne McCaffrey. The contest began in 1988 and is still well respected.

The website has forums for writers, and plenty of tips for those who want to learn more about writing in these genres. A short YouTube book trailer is on the main page, and an interview with Orson Scott Card is on the “How to Win” page. He talks about reasons why to enter this particular contest. 

If you win, your story will be published in the L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Anthology. Prizes are $1000 for first place, $750 for second, and $500 for third. In addition, the winners will receive a trip to the award ceremony in Seattle, and be registered for a week-long workshop. So what are you waiting for? The future is yours!

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Posted in Contests, Contests Anytime, Contests December

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