Category Archives: Contests February

The First Line Writing Prompts for 2011

Posted on November 16, 2010 | Leave a comment

Entry fee: FREE

Deadlines: Quarterly. See the blog post.

Guidelines: The First Line

One of the best ways to get better at writing is to write. Write well, write often, write regularly. One way to do this is to participate in contests or submit to magazines and ezines that have regular deadlines. The First Line is such a good magazine that I always recommend it on the blog. All you have to do is write a story using the first line they declare for that issue. Here are the prompts and deadlines for the year 2011.

Spring 2011: Sam was a loyal employee.

(Submissions due February 1, 2011.)

Summer 2011: “We need to talk.”

(Submissions due May 1, 2011.)

Fall 2011: Edwin spotted them the moment he stepped off the train.

(Submissions due August 1, 2011.)

Winter 2011: It had been a long year.

(Submissions due November 1, 2011.)

Happy writing, and good luck in your pursuit of publication.

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Posted in Contests, Contests August, Contests February, Contests May, Contests November, Writing, Writing markets

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“Dear Lucky Agent” Contest for Middle Grade and Young Adult Novels

Posted on February 13, 2010 | Leave a comment

Deadline: February 21, 2010

Entry Fee: Free

Guidelines: http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/Dear+Lucky+Agent+Contest+Middle+Grade+And+Young+Adult.aspx

This contest is being offered by the Guide to Literary Agents. The blog post states that it will be a recurring contest, although in different genres each time. So take advantage of this month’s contest if you write MG or YA fiction.

To enter, you need to have a completed manuscript. Yes, that means completely completed. Not done except for the editing, not almost done, not even “I’ve got a great idea and I can write it in a month” done. It must be complete now.

To enter the contest, you must send the first 150-200 pages of the manuscript in an email to februaryagentcontest@gmail.com. That should encourage everyone to turn a critical eye on that first page of the story. How is your hook?

The judge is Jennifer Laughran, an agent with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency. She’ll choose the lucky writers to win critiques and Writer’s Digest books. And since writers are an optimistic lot, who knows what else might result from this fabulous contest?

Check the guidelines carefully. Be like Santa. Make a list of things they require. Check it twice. Then send your manuscript in and expect it to be everything they hoped for.

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Posted in Contests, Contests February, Writing

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Realm-Magazine.com Travel Writing Competition

Posted on December 23, 2009 | Leave a comment

I received this comment today. I thought it was interesting, so here’s the post.

Guidelines: http://www.realm-magazine.com

Writing Competition Page

Closing date: February 26, 2010

Entry fee: FREE

Hi, Calling all anglophiles! Just thought I’d let you know that Realm magazine, a historic travel magazine about Britain, has launched a new travel writing competition, to give amateur writers the chance to win a cruise around the western isles of Scotland and see their story in print.

If you fancy giving it a go, the rules of entry are simple: stories can be a maximum of 500 words about a historic holiday you have enjoyed in Britain and must be first hand accounts of your experience. Anyone can enter, but the story you supply must not have been published anywhere else. All entries will then be judged by the magazine’s editorial team.

The winner and four runners up will then be printed in a special feature in the August 2010 issue of the magazine and other selected stories will be published on the magazine website, www.realm-magazine.com.

How to enter

To check the rules or submit your story, go to www.realm-magazine.com and follow the ‘reader writing competition’ link.

Alternatively, send your work by post to:

Reader Writing Competition

Realm magazine, Archant House, Oriel Road

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 1BB.

The closing date for all entries is Friday 26th February 2010.

The prizes:

1st prize: A luxurious seven night cruise for two people courtesy of Hebridean Island Cruises, staying in a G-Grade double or twin Castle cabin onboard the Hebridean Princess in 201.

2nd prize: A two night stay for two adults and two children at the Auchrannie Spa Resort on the Isle of Arran, Scotland, including a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival, use of all leisure facilities, a complimentary express beauty treatment and a full Scottish breakfast.

3rd prize: An overnight stay for two in a four poster room at Bibury Court Hotel, a stunning Jacobean mansion in the heart of the Cotswolds, with complimentary afternoon tea, dinner in the newly refurbished restaurant and a full English breakfast.

4th prize: Two tickets to a forthcoming exhibition of your choice at the Royal Academy of Art.

5th prize: A Thorntons Chocolates Chocoholic gift set, containing an assortment of goodies for any chocolate lover.

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Posted in Contests, Contests February

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The First Line Spring 2009 Contest

Posted on January 22, 2009 | 2 Comments

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: February 1, 2009

Guidelines: http://www.thefirstline.com

“Herman Sligo was  a bit actor who played Uncle Emil in three episodes of the popular television series The Five Sisters.”

Use this first line, verbatim, create a story between 300 and 3,000 words to enter in the First Line Writing Contest. This is a quarterly contest, so if you miss the deadline for the May contest, there will be another one, with a new first line, coming up in August.

The editors say they like to make the online magazine eclectic, so they accept stories in all genres. That being said, they will publish the winning entries in their anthology. Winners are notified 2-3 weeks after the deadline, a quick response time in the publishing world.

The first lines are always intriguing, making this a fun writing project. Winners receive $20 and a copy of the anthology. Submissions are all done via e-mail, so check the website for guidelines.

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Posted in Contests, Contests Anytime, Contests February

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The Cats Protection Writing Competition

Posted on January 22, 2009 | Leave a comment

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: February 27, 2009

Guidelines: http://www.cats.org.uk/thecat/latest/comp.asp

“Forget dazzling doggerel, we want creative catterel!” So states the website for this contest about cats. Cat Magazine, based in the UK is sponsoring this contest for short stories or poetry. Short stories should be 1,000 words or less, and poems less than 500 words. The contest has no entry fee, but they are suggesting a donation of £5 to help defray the costs of administration. The winner receives a new laptop and the runner up receives other prizes, such as a thesaurus and desk accessories. The downloadable entry form has three past winning entries on it, as well as a bio of the contest judge. Be sure to download it and read them.

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Posted in Contests, Contests February

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