Real Simple Magazine Creative Nonfiction Memoir Essay Contest

From Real Simple Magazine:

Deadline: 9/24/2010
realsimple.com/lifelessons
Creative Nonfiction / Memoir / Essay
Enter the Third Annual Real Simple Life Lessons Contest And You Could Win $3000

Finish this sentence: “I NEVER THOUGHT I’D...”
THEN TELL US WHY! Whether the experience was difficult, funny, easy, or bittersweet, share your lesson and you could win.

ONE WINNER WILL RECEIVE:
• $3,000
• Round-trip tickets for two to New York City, hotel accommodations for two nights, tickets to a Broadway play, and a lunch with Real Simple editors
• Publication in Real Simple Magazine

Contest entries should be typed, double-spaced, and a maximum of 1,500 words. No purchase necessary. Contest begins at 12:01 A.M. on June 1, 2010, and ends at 11:59 P.M. on September 24, 2010. Open to legal residents of the United States 19 or older at the time of entry. Void where prohibited by law. (All entries will not be returned.)

TO ENTER Send your typed, double-spaced submission (1,500 words maximum, preferably in a Microsoft Word attachment) by e-mail to lifelessons[at]realsimple.com.
For contest rules, visit realsimple.com/lifelessonscontest

Screamfest LA 2010 Call for Entries - Films and Screenplays

This just in from our friends at ScreamfestLA:

Screamfest LA 2010 call for entries
Deadline: August 15,2010
www.screamfestla.com
Horror

"A launching pad for burgeoning directors and screenwriters, Screamfest is dedicated to celebrating the often neglected and underappreciated horror genre. Formed in 2001, Screamfest is one of the leading festivals of its kind and many of the movies and moviemakers showcased here have found distribution...." -MOVIEMAKER MAGAZINE

Screamfest 2010 Call For Entries are now open for new feature length and short films and unproduced screenplays. Winning films receive the coveted golden skull designed by legendary Stan Winston. Winning screenplay receives $2,000 cash and Movie Magic Screenwriter. For more information or to download a submission form, go to www.screamfestla.com

Screamfest discovered the box office hit PARANORMAL ACTIVITY. Are you the next big thing?

"When all other festivals were rejecting PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, Screamfest was the first and only festival at the time that accepted us. We had a great premiere screening and got positive reviews as a result. Shortly after, we got the attention of CAA and many distributors. The rest, as they say, is history! But it all started at Srceamfest!" -Oren Peli

The New York Songwriters Circle 2009 Songwriting Contest DL 10/1/09

Calling all songwriters!

Deadline: Submissions deadline is October 1st, 2009. All mail in submissions must be postmarked by September 23rd, 2009 to qualify.

Website: http://www.songwriters-circle.com/2009_about.htm

Type: Songwriting Contest

Submission Fee: $30 per one song submission / $50 per three song submission.

Prize: Over $25,000 in cash and prizes

From their site:

The New York Songwriters Circle | The 2009 Songwriting Contest: "With over $25,000 in cash and prizes, more opportunities and more great music then ever before we are excited to welcome you to the 2009 Songwriting Contest. With the most recent success of past winners Kate Voegele, Company Of Thieves and Mieka Pauley, we are once again on the search for the best songwriters out there today.

Submissions are now being accepted from songwriters worldwide in all musical genres. Whether submitting online or via mail, click here to submit your music.

All song submissions must be in English.

Our list of judges, prizes and sponsors is constantly growing so keep checking back for the latest updates.

All entrants receive a complimentary 6-month MoB membership to Broadjam.com (a $25 value)

Family Circle Fiction Writing Contest: DL Aug 31

http://www.parents.com/family-life/fitness/stress-relaxation/fiction-contest-winners/?page=12

Deadline: August 31st, 2009

Type: Contest

Reading Fee: None

Prize: One grand prize winner will receive $750, publication in Family Circle, a certificate for one online mediabistro.com course (valued at up to $610), and a one-year mediabistro.com AvantGuild membership ($49 value). Two runners-up will each receive $250 and a one-year
mediabistro.com AvantGuild membership ($49 value), and will have his or her story published on familycircle.com.

Looking for: Short fiction up to 2500 words

Accepts: Snail mail submissions

See the parents.com website for further details on the contest.

Juked fiction and poetry contest: DL Aug 31

http://www.juked.com/prize/

Deadline: August 31, 2009

Type: Contest

Entry Fee: $10 per entry. There is no limit on the number of entries you
may submit.

Prize: First prize for each genre: $500 and publication in our upcoming print issue, Juked #7.

Looking for: Previously unpublished fiction and poetry

Accepts: Simultaneous submissions are fine, but notify us immediately if your work has been accepted elsewhere. Submit by Snail Mail or Email.

From their site:

Fiction: send one story per entry. There is no length requirement.

Poetry: send up to five poems (no more than ten pages total) per entry.

We are currently accepting entries for our 2009 JukedFiction and Poetry Prizes. Winners in each of the genres will receive $500 and publication in print issue #7. Our final judges this year are Dan Chaon (fiction) and Dora Malech (poetry). This year we will also accept electronic submissions to help everyone cut down on costs.

Current and former students of the judges are not eligible to compete.

Include a cover page with your name, address, e-mail, telephone number and the title(s) of your story or poems. Do not put your name anywhere else on the manuscript.

We will notify via e-mail;do not include an SASE.

Results will be announced in October 2009.

See website for more details on how to submit.

Robert Frost Foundation 2009 poetry contest:

Annual Poetry Award for poems written in the "spirit of Robert Frost."

• Website: http://frostfoundation.home.comcast.net/~frostfoundation/wsb/html/frostsite1215/home.htm
• Deadline: Poems should be postmarked (or emailed) between March 1,
  2009 and September 15, 2009 to be considered for the 2009 award.
• Reading Fee: $10.00 per poem
• Award: Unclear

Visit the website and click on 'Poetry Award' for more information on
submission guidelines.

Real Simple's Second-Annual Life Lessons Writing Contest

Real Simple's seeks 1,500 word essays about first realizing you were a grown-up.

Contest description (from the Real Simple website):

When did you realize that you had become a grown-up? Perhaps it was when you first paid taxes or met your son’s first girlfriend. Whether the experience was difficult, funny, easy, or bittersweet, share your lesson and you could win.

Enter Real Simple’s second-annual Life Lessons essay contest and you could have your essay published in Real Simple; win round-trip tickets for two to New York City, hotel accommodations for two nights, tickets to a Broadway play, and a lunch with Real Simple editors; and receive a prize of $3,000.

For more information and submission details, go to:
http://www.realsimple.com/work-life/life-strategies/inspiration-motivation/second-annual-life-lessons-essay-contest-00000000013682/

Drue Heinz contest for a book-length collection of short fiction

Call for Submissions 2009

The Drue Heinz Literature Prize:

http://www.upress.pitt.edu/renderHtmlPage.aspx?srcHtml=htmlSourceFiles/drueheinz.htm

From their site:

The Drue Heinz Literature Prize recognizes and supports writers of short fiction and makes their work available to readers around the world. The award is open to writers who have published a book-length collection of fiction or at least three short stories or novellas in commercial magazines or literary journals.

Manuscripts are judged anonymously by nationally known writers; past judges have included Robert Penn Waren, Joyce Carol Oates, Raymond Carver, Margaret Atwood, Russell Banks, Rick Moody and Joan Didion. The prize carries a cash award of $15,000 and publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press under its standard contract.

The winner will be announced by the University Press in January. No information about the winner will be released before the official announcement. The volume of manuscripts prevents the Press from offering critiques or entering into communication or correspondence about manuscripts. Please do not call or e-mail the Press.

Manuscripts must be received during May and June 2009. That is, they must be postmarked on or after May 1 and on or before June 30.

See website for eligibility details.

2009 Silver Screenwriting Competition Call For Submissions

All submissions must be postmarked by May 1st, 2009 by 11:59pm
Early bird deadline: March 15th, 2009 by 11:59pm - $45
Final deadline: May 1st, 2009 by 11:59pm - $55

Winners announced: September 15th, 2009

http://www.silverscreenwriting.com

No Fee Essay Writing Contest for Men Only!

More Than A Few Good Men Essay Writing Contest (no fee):

From the editors:

We're Looking For A few Good Men. Do you have a compelling story to tell about a defining moment in your life? The editors of More Than a Few Good Men are sponsoring a national writing contest and are accepting submissions from March 1 through May 1. The contest is open to men ages 35 to 60. Each writer should submit an original essay focused on a defining moment in his life, when the challenges of childhood, coming of age, work, relationships, fatherhood or death caused a fundamental change in his understanding of himself as a man. Essays should be from 1,000 to 3,000 words long and written in the first person. More Than a Few Good Men is an anthology of essays about what it means to be a man in America today. Contributors include such accomplished writers as Mad Men creator Matt Wiener, Memoires of a Geisha novelist Arthur Golden, and Not That You Asked essayist Steve Almond. An NFL Hall of Famer, a former Sing Sing inmate, a one-time Wall Street wunderkind, and a photojournalist embedded with U.S. troops in Iraq are among the other contributors. More Than a Few Good Men will be published in spring 2010. All proceeds from the book will benefit the Good Men Foundation, a charitable organization founded to support men and boys at risk. For more information about the book, the contributors or the contest, visit www.goodmenbook.org.

Community Written Screenplay

Cowritescript.com is holding a contest where writers submit the next 10 pages of an ongoing script to create a "community-sourced screenplay." It costs $10 to submit, but what fun! From their site:

Cowrite is developing a community-created movie script. Every other week the best ten-page script entry selected by the Cowrite judges will be added to the developing story until the screenplay is completed and ready to be sold! Learn more

THE THIRD 10 PAGES ARE NOW POSTED ON THE STORY PAGE (Congrats to Tony Martin)

DEADLINE FOR NEXT 10 PAGES: 11:59 PM EST, MARCH 1ST 2009--$10
EXTENDED DEADLINE: 11:59 PM EST, MARCH 4TH 2009--$14

(Packages: $40 for 5 submissions, $75 for 11 submissions. Includes extended deadline entries and can be used for any of the 11 biweekly entry periods)

WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS FOR WEEK 4

NEXT 10 PAGES POSTED: MARCH 9TH 2009

*Entry fees must be made with a credit card online

Feb 15: Gertrude fiction and poetry chapbook contest

Each year Gertrude Press publishes two chapbooks; one fiction and one poetry. These attractive collections will include a unique cover in a limited press run.

http://www.gertrudepress.org/guidelines/chapbook.html

Writer Compensation:
$50 cash award
50 complimentary copies of the chapbook

Chapbooks will be distributed to subscribers, libraries, and
bookstores carrying Gertrude, the Press' annual literary journal.

Poetry Chapbook Guidelines:

Submit 16-20 pages of poetry via surface mail only.

Indicate which poems have been previously published and by whom.
Unpublished poems are welcome.

Poetry may be of any subject matter and writers from all backgrounds
are encouraged to submit.

Include a cover letter and SASE for notification. For manuscript
returns, please include exact postage.

Indicate how you learned of the contest in your cover letter.

Include a $15 submission fee payable to Gertrude Press.

Submission fee includes copy of the winning chapbook.

Submissions accepted beginning September 1, 2008 until February 15,
2009 (postmark deadline).

Fiction Chapbook Guidelines:

Submit 16-20 pages of short fiction or a self-contained novel excerpt
via surface mail only.

Indicate which selections have been previously published and by whom.
Unpublished pieces are welcome.

Fiction may be of any subject matter and writers from all backgrounds
are encouraged to submit.

Include a cover letter and SASE for notification. For manuscript
returns, please include exact postage.

Indicate how you learned of the contest in y
our cover letter.

Include a $15 submission fee payable to Gertrude Press.

Submission fee includes a copy of the winning chapbook.

Submissions accepted beginning September 1, 2008 until February 15,
2009 (postmark deadline).

Please send all submissions to:
Gertrude Press
PO Box 83948
Portland OR 97283

Winners will be announced by May 1, 2009.

Jan 15: BkMk Press Poetry and Fiction Book Contests

BkMk Press of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Announces The G. S. Sharat Chandra Prize for Short Fiction, and The John Ciardi Prize for Poetry:

Next Postmark deadline: January 15, 2009
http://www.umkc.edu/bkmk/poetry.html

For the best book-length collections of poetry and of short fiction in English by a living author: Prize: $1,000 and publication of winning book for each prize

Submissions:

Manuscripts must be typed on standard-sized paper, in English. Poetry manuscripts should be approximately 50 pages minimum, 110 pages maximum, single spaced. Short fiction collections should be approximately 150 pages minimum, 300 pages maximum, double spaced.

Entries must include two title pages: one with author name, address and phone number; and one with no author information. Any acknowledgments should appear on a separate piece of paper.

Entries must include a table of contents.

Author's name must not appear anywhere on the manuscript.

Please submit your manuscript in loose pages, bound only with a clip or rubber band. We prefer that you do not staple or permanently bind your manuscript. Do not submit your manuscript by fax or e-mail.

Simultaneous and multiple submissions are acceptable. Please notify us of acceptance elsewhere.

An SASE should be included, for notification only. Note: No manuscripts will be returned.

A non-refundable reading fee of $25 in US funds (check made payable to BkMk Press) must accompany each manuscript. Entrants will receive a copy of the winning book in their genre when it is published.

Manuscripts must be postmarked no later than January 15, 2009.

Manuscripts will not be returned. No refunds will be issued.

Judging will be blind at all levels. Initial judging will be done by a network of published writers and editors. The final judging will be done by a poet and a fiction writer of national reputation. Winners will be announced in July 2009 and the winning entries will be published in 2010.

These competitions are held annually.

Address To:

John Ciardi Prize for Poetry or Sharat Chandra Prize for Fiction
BkMk Press
University of Missouri-Kansas City
5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110-2499

(816) 235-2558
Fax (816) 235-2611
bkmk@umkc.edu

Apr 15: Premier Book Awards

Premier Book Awards is currently accepting entries in both fiction and non-fiction for the 2009 contest. With so many new titles published every year it is increasingly difficult for an individual book to stand out. Winning a contest is an opportunity for publicity-exposure for the author and the book.

There is no better way to gain credibility and increased sales than to win an award for writing excellence. When faced with two competing titles, buyers will invariably select the one that has won an award.Premier Book Awards were established to recognize meritorious works by writers who self-published or had their books published by a small press or independent book publisher. POD books are welcome. The contest is open to selected book length fiction and non-fiction titles with a 2008 or 2009 copyright, published in the English language and
targeted for the North American market. There are $100 cash awards for the winners in each category, plus a $500 award for the Premier Book of the Year. Winners also receive a certificate suitable for framing and Premier Book Awards will issue a press release to announce the achievement. Check the website for details:

www.PremierBookAwards.com
Deadline: April 15th, 2009
admin@premierbookawards.com

March 16: Bellday Poetry Prize, Poetry Book Contest

THE 2009 BELLDAY POETRY PRIZE
http://www.belldaybooks.com/contest.html

Bellday Books will publish the winning book and award $2,000 and 25 copies of the book to the winning author.

CONTEST FINAL JUDGE: Linda Gregerson
Linda Gregerson has published 4 books of poetry, including Magnetic North, Waterborne, The Woman Who Died in Her Sleep and Fire in the Conservatory, and several books of criticism. She has won fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Institute for Advanced Studies and National Endowment of the Arts. She teaches creative writing and Renaissance literature at the University of Michigan.

Submission Deadline: Postmarked March 16, 2009

Contest Rules:

Submit manuscript of 60-90 pages of original poetry in English. The manuscript must not have been published in book or chapbook, but may contain poems that have appeared in print or on the Internet.

Manuscript must contain 2 title pages: Name and contact information should appear on first title page only. Name should not appear anywhere else in manuscript. Manuscript should be typed, single-spaced, paginated, and bound with spring clip.

Include a table of contents page, but no acknowledgements.

Enclose an SASE for announcement of the winner.

Manuscript cannot be returned.

Check or money order for $25 reading fee, payable to Bellday Books.

Bellday Books reserves the right not to select an award winner, in which case all reading fees will be refunded.

CONTEST MAILING ADDRESS:
Bellday Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 2
03687
Pittsburgh, PA 15230

Questions may be directed to: office@belldaybooks.com

CutBank Contests

Do you have a story that is bold and outside-the-box?

CutBank Literary MagazineUniversity of Montana: CutBank is pleased to announce the second annual Montana Prize in Fiction, the Montana Prize in Creative Nonfiction, and the Patricia Goedicke Prize in Poetry. We are honored to have three talented judges participating in the inaugural year of these contests. The Patricia Goedicke Prize in Poetry will be judged by Noah Eli Gordon. Joy Williams will select the winner of the Montana Prize in Fiction. The winner of the Montana Prize in Creative Nonfiction will be selected by Brian Bouldrey. Submissions are accepted December 1 through February 29. Winners receive $500 and publication in CutBank 71. All submissions will be considered for publication in CutBank. The contests' $13 entry fee includes a one-year, two-issue subscription to CutBank, beginning with the prize issue, CutBank 71. Please send only your best work. With all three of these awards, we are seeking to highlight work that showcases an authentic voice, a boldness of form, and a rejection of functional fixedness. Submissions are accepted December 1 through February 29.

Narrative Travel Writing Contest

Narrative Travel Writing Contest

Deadline: December 15, 2008

Travel writing contest calls for submissions on the 'dangerous world'. Professionals, freelancers and writers worldwide are invited to submit their travel stories to the 2009 Narrative Travel Writing Contest, organized by TransitionsAbroad.com.

The theme for this year's contest is "Travel in a Dangerous World."

Submissions should address whether the world is truly more dangerous than it has ever been, or if governments and media have exaggerated the threats. Stories will be judged based on their sensitivity to the people and culture being described, ability to engage the reader, and literary quality.

The first, second and third-place winners will receive US$500, US$150, and US$100 respectively. TransitionsAbroad.com will publish the top three winners' entries as well as those of the selected runner-ups. For more information, visit www.transitionsabroad.com.

ASA International Screenplay Competition Late Deadline is November 30

For the screenwriters out there, it's not to late to submit your screenplay to the ASA International Screenplay Competition, since they have a late entry deadline. Here are some of the details from their website:

Entry Deadline: October 31, 2008
Late Entry Deadline: November 30, 2008

The ASA International Screenplay Competition, co-sponsored by Gotham Writers' Workshop, is an industry leading competition because it was designed and is maintained first and foremost with you the screenwriter in mind. We pride ourselves on offering a competition that is only one of eight to be awarded an A+ grade by Creative Screenwriting, a structured judging program, and a notification system to let every entrant know where they stand and how the competition is doing. We know you have a choice of screenplay competitions to enter and we want the ASA International Screenplay Competition to be your choice. Thank you for considering our competition. We look forward to reading your screenplay!

Our prizes are geared towards: significant financial reward - our winner receives $10,000 plus all finalists receive a cash award as well. industry recognition - we promote the winners in a number of ways including an ad in the Hollywood Reporter; an international press release; direct mailings to more than 6,500 studios and production companies; and the presentation of awards at the ASA Screenwriting Hall of Fame Awards during the San Diego Film Festival / ASA International Screenwriters Conference writer development - finalists receive a full script consultation or script critique from a top Hollywood consultant; the winner receives a script development trip to Hollywood; and we get the winning scripts into the hands of Hollywood decision makers from studios to production companies, and agents to managers. Every Quarterfinalist receives a professional script critique. student support - for all full-time students entering our competition, we offer a discounted entry fee AND in addition to having your script considered in the regular competition, we will also have your script judged in a special side competition (at no extra cost) where your script competes against other student entries. The winning student entry receives $500 cash!

Poetry and short story contest: Central Coast Writers

Spring 2009 Central Coast Writers Contest
From their site:

Poetry and Short Story winners will each receive $500

Their winning work will be published in the Spring 2009 Homestead Review produced by Hartnell College. Note: All contest entries will be considered for publication in Hartnell College's Spring 2009 Homestead Review.

Contest Rules

Eligibility: Open to all work not previously published. Simultaneous submissions allowed, but you must notify us if your work is accepted elsewhere.

Entry Fee: Short stories: $15 per story. Poetry: $5 per poem.

Multiple Entries: You may enter as many times as you wish.

Maximum Length: Short story: 4000 words. Poetry: no restriction.

Submission Period: August 15, 2008 through November 15, 2008 (by postmark)

Notification: Winners will be notified by March 31, 2009 and announced in Scribbles, the Central Coast Writers branch monthly newsletter.

Finalist judges will be Homestead Review editors Maria Garcia Teutsch and Dr. Jessica Breheny, published authors in their respective genres of poetry and fiction.

For further details on submissions, see the above link.

2009 BlueCat Screenplay Contest CALL FOR ENTRIES

The 2009 BLUECAT SCREENPLAY COMPETITION is now open for submission of feature length screenplays!

Winner receives $10,000
Four finalists receive $1500
Every writer who submits to BlueCat receives a written script analysis of their screenplay
Entry fee $50

EARLY DEADLINE: December 1, 2008
*Screenplays submitted by Dec 1 will receive their analysis by Jan 5

SUBMIT YOUR SCREENPLAY:
http://www.bluecatscreenplay.com/submissions/call_for_entries.php
www.bluecatscreenplay.com
www.myspace.com/bluecatscreenplay