Category Archives: Contests November

Nov 15 2011

WOW! Women on Writing Fall 2011 Contest

Entry Fee: $10.00

Deadline: November 30, 2011

Guidelines: WOW! Women on Writing

If you want to get noticed by an editor of a publishing house, the WOW! Women on Writing quarterly contests are one way to do it. They are judged by editors, agents, and seasoned writers. The contests are friendly and fun, and still are able to be professional.

Read the WOW! website, and you’ll get a feel for the quirky, upbeat, and fun, (yes, I used the “f” word again) atmosphere. The same writing style goes over well with the contests. But don’t be fooled into thinking it’s just an easy does it contest. The competition is quite fierce, as the site has a fabulous reputation among female writers.

This contest has an open prompt, which means you can write about any topic you love in any genre, keeping it between 250 and 750 words. The $10 entry fee pays for the awards and the tons of swag that go to the winners. Best of all, WOW! is eager to promote the winners on their website with interviews and pictures.

Happy writing!

Nov 1 2011

Seventeen Magazine Fiction Contest

Entry Fee: Free, but you must register at the Figment website

Deadline: December 31, 2011

Guidelines: Seventeen Magazine Official Rules

This is for all you younger friends. Seventeen Magazine and Figment.com are offering this creative writing contest for young women between the ages of 13 and 21. Figment is a fun-looking online writer’s community where you can post your work and get noticed. Think Riley Carney, and you’ve got an idea of what Figment is all about. Youthful, fun, engaging.

Just write a story longer than 500 words, (but not the same as the dreaded 1000 word essay you do in English class.) It must be completely new and never been published. If you use real people in your story, disguise them well. Don’t leave any clue to the true identities of the characters in your story.

Readers of the stories may vote on their favorites, but the final judging by the official judges comes down to this criteria:

  • 34% writing ability
  • 33% originality
  • 33% creativity

Guess What You Win?

The first place winner receives a cool $5,000, publication of her story on the Seventeen Magazine website, and a call from Maggie Stiefvater. Who is this Maggie Stiefvater person, you ask? Only the amazing author of Shiver, Linger, The Books of Faerie, and The Scorpio Races. Check out Maggie’s awesome website.

Important Stuff from the Seventeen Magazine Official Rules

To enter the Promotion you must submit one (1) original fiction story (the “Submission”). You will write the Submission on Figment.com and click on “Publish Now”. On the “Details” page, put “seventeenmag” in “Tags.” Limit of one (1) Submission per person during the Promotion Entry Period.

Okay, now, why are you still here? Get cracking on that story! This isn’t like a homework assignment you put off till the night before it’s due. This is the big time, friend. Go wow the judges with your inspiring wit and word flair.

Happy writing!

Oct 24 2011

Ghost Story Writing Contest

Entry Fee: Free

Deadline: November 18, 2011

Guidelines: Glass Woman Prize

Okay, so you started your Halloween ghost story late, and now you’ve missed the deadline for entries. Never fear! The Glass Woman Prize has a ghost story contest that’s accepting entries until November 18, 2011. There is a $100 cash prize and it’s open to women writing in English. (Sorry, guys.)

What’s the spookiest thing that’s ever happened to you? I could tell you some spine tinglers about my second apartment. Never mind, maybe I’ll write a story for the contest, too.

Happy writing!

Oct 12 2011

The First Line Literary Journal, Winter 2011

“It had been a long year.”

This is the first line of the story you’re going to write and submit. What about the long year? What made it long? Why? What was really happening? Write well and surprise the editors with your originality, and you may see your story in print.

Deadline: November 1, 2011

Entry Fee: Free. This is a quarterly journal taking submissions on a regular basis.

Guidelines: The First Line

Aug 23 2011

Reader’s Digest Writing Your Life Contest

Deadline: November 1, 2011

Fee: Free

Guidelines: Reader’s Digest Facebook page

Wow! $25,000 is the grand prize if your story is chosen to appear in the Reader’s Digest upcoming release, Life…The Reader’s Digest Version: Great Advice, Simply Put, Reader’s Digest. Ten runners up will win $2,500.

Similar to the NPR Three Minute Fiction writing contest, Facebook fans will be able to vote for their favorite stories. The people’s choice will also receive $2,500.

Now that I’ve told you all the good news, let’s get down to the important deets. Stories must be about your life, written in 150 words or less. You’ll also be competing against Glee actor Jane Lynch, who submitted an entry. Who knows? Maybe she’ll like your story enough to use it on Glee.

Good luck, and happy writing!

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!

 

Nov 16 2010

The First Line Writing Prompts for 2011

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.

Nov 11 2010

Christmas Chillers Contest Closes November 18, 2010

Entry Fee: 5 pounds

Deadline: November 18, 2010

Guidelines: http://www.writelink.co.uk/xmaschillers/

This contest by Writelink, based in the UK, gives this opening line for the story:

The only thing the children had in common was they’d all disappeared on Christmas Eve.

As you can tell from the title of the contest, the tale doesn’t take the warm, fuzzy route. Have fun with this twist on Christmas. Write a story in 1500 words that explains what happened to those poor children. According to the website, many stories don’t make the final cut because of basic problems. Too many spelling or grammar errors, not having a good opening, or not following directions are mentioned. So be sure to read the rules, send in your best work, and have the best of luck in this contest.

 

 

Oct 15 2009

The First Line Winter ’09 Writing Contest

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.

Sep 24 2009

Lilith Magazine Seventh Annual Fiction Competition

Entry Fee: FREE

Deadline: November 1, 2009

Guidelines: http://www.lilith.org/writers.htm

Lilith Magazine focuses on stories that appeal to Jewish women and the issues in their lives. They award $250 for the first prize in their fiction contest, and publication in Lilith Magazine. Past winning entries are online to read. Send your story of up to 3,000 words to:

LILITH MAGAZINE

250 West 57th Street, Suite 2432

New York, NY 10107

In addition, Lilith Magazine is having a second annual poetry contest. Again, the topic is any subject that will appeal to Jewish women. You may include up to three poems with each submission. The deadline for this contest is November 30, 2009. Check the Lilith website for all the editorial guidelines and sample winning stories and poems.