Category Archives: Contests January

Jul 12 2011

Clive Cussler 2012 Adventure Writing Contest

Deadline: Opens October 1, 2011, closes January 1, 2012 or after the 25th entry

Entry Fee: Free

Guidelines: Adventure Writers Competition

Who hasn’t read a Clive Cussler adventure novel? Okay, put your hand down and head to the bookstore and pick one up. You’ve been missing out on a good read.

Cussler’s books are imaginative, fast paced, and with a hero that can beat any odds. Sort of like James Bond and Indiana Jones rolled into one character. My friend Ann swoons whenever she picks up a Cussler book.

If you’re unpublished in the adventure genre, you’re eligible to enter your manuscript to this contest for free. The grand prize is a cool $1000.

The guidelines state the contest opens on October 1 and closes when they receive 25 manuscripts. That means that if they receive 25 manuscripts on the first day, the conest is closed. So polish up your work and get your manuscript in to the contest early!

Good luck and happy writing!

 

Dec 16 2010

25th Annual AKC Publication Fiction Contest

Deadline: January 31, 2011

Entry Fee: FREE

Guidelines: http://www.akc.org/pubs/fictioncontest/

This is contest for dog lovers. AKC runs this contest each year and publishes some of the winning entries in their magazines, AKC Gazette and AKC Family Dog. This is a chance to get published in a national magazine.

Dog sitting on pier

Image by Jessen Charlotte at sxc.hu

They request a short story of up to 2,000 words featuring a purebred or a mixed breed dog. There is no requirement for genre, however, reading a few copies of the magazines will give you a sense of what style of writing the editors prefer.

Cash prizes are:

  • 1rst place: $500
  • 2nd place: $250
  • 3rd place: $100

There is one small drawback to this contest. The entries must be on paper, snail mailed. Electronic submissions are not accepted. If you can deal with that, then have fun writing some fiction for the AKC.

Happy writing!

Dec 9 2010

Reading Writers Winter Wind Contest

Deadline: January 15, 2011

Entry Fee: FREE

Guidelines: http://www.readingwriters.com/contest.htm

I’ve written about this contest before. The sponsors are a proofreading and editing service, and the winning entry receives a free Opinion. Getting a free critique from a professional is valuable, making this contest worthwhile. In addition, the winning entry is published in their ezine, The Verb, and receives a grand prize of $100.

The current contest is for a short story about a lost item that is found. Any genre is acceptable. The word count is 1,500.

Good luck!

Nov 26 2010

Win a Writer’s Retreat in Cornwall, England from Words with Jam

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: January 14, 2011

Guidelines: http://www.wordswithjam.co.uk/#/writers-retreat/4544902483

Check this out. Words with Jam, a high quality e-zine is celebrating their first birthday! To make it a memorable one, they’re giving away enrollment at a four day writer’s retreat in Polperro, a village in Cornwall. They’re providing the winner with 5 star lodging, meals at a local inn, drinks, (drinks, they say?) and a parking permit.

Picture of Polperro fishing village, Cornwall, England.

Image from Wikipedia.org

The best part is you don’t have to give the blood of your firstborn to enter. Kids, you’re safe.

Words with Jam is asking for the last two lines of a story you’ve written. They don’t care what genre it is. The only regulation is the length, 40 words or less. You may enter up to three times.

Entries are by email. For all the deets on the contest, go to Words with Jam. While you’re there, pick up a free subscription. To read more about the writer’s conference, go to Writer’s Courses Cornwall.

Then send in your last two lines.

And make them bloody good.

Sep 22 2010

Transitions Abroad 2011 Travel Writing Contest

Genre: Travel Writing

Entry Fee: Free

Deadline: January 5, 2011

Guidelines: http://www.transitionsabroad.com/information/writers/travel_writing_contest.shtml#contest_guidelines

I’ve written about the Transitions Abroad Travel Writing Contest before, and it’s open again now for exceptional travel essays. Read the guidelines carefully; they are not looking for flowery, descriptive travel pieces. They are looking for pieces reflecting respect for a culture and immersion with a location. Photos are a plus.

The website has winning entries posted from 2006 through 2010. Reading them will help you understand the type of writing the editors prefer. First place winners receive $500 and publication on their website.

Good luck, and happy writing!

Jan 7 2010

Erma Bombeck Writing Competition

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: January 31, 2010

Guidelines: http://www.wclibrary.info/erma/index.asp

Are you funny? The Washington Centerville Public Library and the University of Dayton are sponsoring the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition, focusing on humor.

I have to admit. When I was younger, I always  wanted to write funny articles like Erma Bombeck. If you love her humor and style, you might want to enter this contest. Entries should be personal essays, 450 wrods or less. Categories are humor and human interest and should evoke positive emotions in the readers. Entries are only accepted online. Winners receive $100, publication on the website and in a newspaper, and admission to the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop.

Jan 16 2009

The Novelette Writing Contest

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: January 31, 2009

Guidelines: http://writingcontest.thenovelette.com/

Fiction entries for this contest can be about any type of pet, from fish to frogs, from hamsters to horses. A past winning entry, Sweet Tart, about a parrot and its newlywed owners, is a must read. There are two prizes. One is The Reader’s Award, chosen by popular online vote, and the other The Editor’s Award, given by the editors. The winners receive a $25 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble bookstores. The website has more details and an online submission form.

Jan 15 2009

AKC Fiction Writing Contest

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: January 31, 2009

Guidelines: http://www.akc.org/pubs/fictioncontest/

The American Kennel Club is sponsoring their 22nd annual fiction writing contest, and it’s still free to enter! The prizes are a respectable $750, $500, and $250, and the winners are published in the AKC Gazette and the AKC Family Dog. The guidelines for the topic are wide open; 2,000 words on any subject, as long as an AKC recognized dog appears in the story. How about a Beagle who sniffs out crimes, or a Shetland Sheepdog who saves children from a snowdrift? Whatever you decide, have fun with this one.

 

Jan 3 2009

LegiSchool Project Essay Contest

Entry Fee: FEE

Deadline: January 23, 2009

Guidelines: http://www.csus.edu/legischool

California recently passed a law banning teenagers from using a cell phone while driving, even with a hands free device. The law is based on studies that indicate that teenagers are more likely to have accidents if they are distracted by cell phone conversations. The Sacramento State Center for California Studies and the California Legislature want to know how teenagers feel about the recent cell phone ban while driving. The contest is open to 11th and 12th grade students in California schools.

In an essay of 750 words or less, explain if you agree with this law, and tell why or why not. Describe what impact this law has had on your driving skills and if you think it creates better teen drivers.

Send your entry to:

California State University, Sacramento

Center for California Studies, LegiSchool Project

6000 J Street

Sacramento, CA  95819-6081

For more information, you may also call (916) 278-6906.

The essay must be typed and be accompanied by a cover sheet with your name, home address, phone number and email, your school name and address, and the name of the teacher who announced the contest. If you want to include my name, I’m Mrs. Pitner. :-D

Dec 26 2008

Spectra Pulse Short Fiction Contest

Spectra Pulse Short Fiction Contest

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: January 31, 2009

Guidelines: http://www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/spectra/spectrapulseshortfiction.html

Bantam Dell Publishing, a division of Random House, has been publishing science fiction, horror, fantasy, and speculative fiction for over twenty years under the imprint of Bantam Spectra. They are looking for new, unpublished authors to submit work for the first annual contest for short speculative fiction. Send your best 2,000 word or less speculative fiction story to them by email. If you win, you’ll be  $100 richer and published in the Spring 2009 issue of Spectra Pulse, a magazine of speculative fiction. This is a chance to have your work appear in a national magazine, promoted at the Comic-Con in San Diego in 2009, and rub shoulders with some of the best writers in the business. The winner will be notified in March 2009, and publicly lauded in April 2009. Best of luck!