Short fiction contest: Write2Help.org

Write2Help.Org Fall 2008 Short Fiction Contest:

Proceeds benefit World Relief, a worldwide humanitarian effort based out of Baltimore, MD.

Topic: Write a short story (1500 words or less) about an exciting or awakening experience in childhood.

Prizes: 1ST Place - $1,000
2ND Place - $250
3RD Place - $100

Deadline: December 20, 2008

Entry Fee: $10

Website: www.write2help.org

Writer's Digest Short Short Story Contest

The 9th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition is accepting entries until December 1st, so get out that magnifying glass and find your best teeny tiny story. Here's what they're searching for and what your big prize could be:

We're looking for fiction that's bold, brilliant... but brief. Send us your best in 1,500 words or less. But don't be too long about it—the deadline is December 1, 2008. The Grand-Prize winner will receive $3,000 (that's $2—or more—per word). Plus, the 1st- through 25th-place manuscripts will be printed in the 9th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition Collection,
published by Trafford Publishing.

The Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest

Dream Quest One is sponsoring Poetry and Writing (Fiction/Non-Fiction) Contests. In their own words:

Deadline: December 31, 2008
Open to anyone who loves to express their innermost thoughts and feeling into the beautiful art of poetry or to write a short story that is worth telling everyone! And to all who have the ability to dream. Write a poem or short story for a chance to win cash prizes. All works must be original.
Write a poem, thirty lines or fewer on any subject, style, or form, typed or neatly hand printed. And/or write a short story, five pages maximum length, on any subject or theme, creative writing fiction or non-fiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries and screenwriting). Also, must be typed or neatly hand printed. Multiple poetry and short story entries are accepted. All winners will be announced on January 31, 2009.
Prizes:

• Writing Contest First Prize is $500. Second Prize: $250. Third Prize: $100.
• Poetry Contest First Prize is $250. Second Prize: $125. Third Prize: $50.

Entry fees: Writing Contest entry fee: $10 per short story.
Poetry Contest entry fee: $5 per poem.
To send entries: Include title(s) with your story (ies) or poem(s), along with your name, address, phone#, email, brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself), on the coversheet. Add a self-addressed stamped envelope for entry confirmation. Fees payable to: “DREAMQUESTONE.COM” Mail to:
Dream Quest One
Poetry & Writing Contest
P.O. Box 3141
Chicago, IL 60654
Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com for further details or to enter!

Franklin-Christoph No-Fee Poetry Contest ~

If you have two original, unpublished poems that are less than 100 words, why not send them to the Franklin-Christoph Free Poetry Contest? You may email your entries to clientservice(at)franklin-christoph(dot)com or snail mail (postmarked by the November 30th deadline) to: Franklin-Christoph Poetry Contest, 7511 Mourning Dove Rd, Suite 104, Raleigh, NC, 27615. In addition to seeing your work published Franklin-Christoph.com, prizes are:

• First Prize: $1000 cash
• 10 Merit Award Winners: $150 Franklin-Christoph writing instruments.

Winners will be announced by February 14, 2009.
Please go to their website for the rest of their contest rules and guidelines.

First Edition Publishing - No Fee Contest

First Edition Publishing - New Fiction, New Writers is currently looking for no-fee contest submissions for their monthly contest for possible publication in upcoming issues.

"Whether you've written a short story, poem, complete novel, script, play or book review we want to hear from you. We run a monthly competition in each of these categories that is completely FREE to enter. Our team of judges will pick the best each month, and we will publish a selection of them in the next available issue of First Edition Magazine. There are cash prizes for the very best in each category. No matter which category, if chosen you can boast that your work has been published and read by tens of thousands of people, and you may even win some cash if you're the very best!

Categories we are looking for:
# Short Stories
# Serialisations of Complete Novels
# Poetry and Prose
# Plays and Scripts
# Reader's Reviews"

Bantam Spectra No-Fee Short Fiction Contest

Bantam Spectra, a division of Random House, Inc., is holding a new no-fee short fiction contest for science fiction, fantasy, and horror writers:

"Presenting a new short fiction contest for unpublished writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror.

For its third edition of Spectra Pulse, Bantam Spectra is allowing unpublished writers to get their work featured alongside some of the most well-respected names in science fiction and fantasy.

One lucky winner will receive $100 and have his/her story published in the Summer 2009 issue of Spectra Pulse, Bantam Spectra’s exclusive magazine distributed at Comic-Con San Diego and select conventions and bookstores (available July 2009)."

Check out the site for submission details and official rules

Deadline: 1/31/09, winners announced April 2009

Narrative 30 Below Contest - No Fee!

This is the last week to enter Narrative Magazine's 30 Below Contest for writers and artists, ages 30 and under.

First Prize is $1,500
Second Prize is $750
Third Prize is $300

Ten finalists will be named, and all entries will be considered for publication.

Open to writers, visual artists, photographers, performers, and filmmakers. We are interested in narrative in the many forms it takes: the word and the image, the traditional and the innovative the true and the imaginary.

Entry deadline: October 27.
No fee to enter.

Get Ready for NaNoWriMo

Don't forget that November is just around the corner, so if you're looking for motivation to write that novel that's been churning and baking in your loins, then run over to NaNoWriMo.org and log in to solidify your November commitment to write that story. Your goal? 50,000 words by November 30th.

A Picture Worth Five-Hundred Words ~

Here's a picture to get you started on an entry to Tattoo Highway's current prose/poetry contest.Take a look at it, mull it over, (How do you really feel about whatever it is they're doing to those fish?) and write a 500-word-or-less short-short story, or a 15-lines-or-less poem, to send to them by "sometime in January '09." If you win, in addition to the glory, the first place winner in each category will receive a $30 bookstore gift certificate and publication in their 18th issue. Mark your entry clearly in the subject field of your email: "TH18 Contest," and send it to: submissions(at)tattoohighway(dot)org.

You Don't Have To Be Jewish ...

... but if you have insight into the Jewish culture, you might want to look into these no-fee contests sponsored by Lilith Magazine. Lilith is accepting submissions to two contests: one for fiction, one for poetry. They are looking for original, unpublished stories (3,000 words or less), with heart, soul, and chutzpah, that illuminate issues in the lives of Jewish women. FIRST PRIZE is $250 and publication of their story in Lilith Magazine. Mail your fiction submission by November 1, 2008 to:

Lilith Magazine, 250 West 57th Street, Suite 2432, New York, NY, 10107.
(They do not accept emailed submissions).

For their poetry contest, they are looking for edgy and exciting work that touches in any way on the Jewish women's experience. Winning poets will win a cash prize, publication in Lilith Magazine, and the possibility of a public reading. You may submit up to 3 poems that do not exceed 100 lines in length. Submit your poems to the same address as the fiction contest, but don't forget to put "Charlotte Newberger Poetry Prize Competition," above the name of the magazine. Poetry entries must be postmarked by November 30, 2008. Please go to their website to check out the rest of their Writer's Guideline's.

"Election Horror" Short Fiction Contest ~

This year's theme for the Annual Apex Halloween Contest is "Election Horror," something I think it's safe to say we can all relate to. (Just the idea of the political arena makes me shudder!) Submit your short story of 1000 words or less (and for which first rights are available), to halloween(at)apexdigest(dot)com by 11:59PM EST, October 15, 2008. Prizes? Yes!

• 1st place winner receives 10 cents a word and publication in Apex Digest Online.
• 2nd place winner receives 5 cents a word and publication in Apex Digest Online.
• 3rd place winner receives a free Apex Book Company hardcover.
• 4th place winner receives a free Apex Book Company trade paperback.

Winning and second place stories will be published on November 4th (election day!) There's no fee to enter this contest, and there's plenty of inspiration no matter where your political affinities lie!

Poetry of the Sacred ~

Do you write poetry that expresses, directly or indirectly, a sense of the holy, or that evokes the sacred? If your work is religious, prophetic or contemplative, why not send a poem to the Poetry of the Sacred Contest 2009? Submit only one previously unpublished poem, written in English, of no more than 100 lines, to Merton Institute, 2117 Payne Street, Louisville, KY, 40206, (or email to vhurst(at)mertoninstitute(dot)org, by December 31, 2008.

• First Prize: $500
• Three Honorable Mention Prizes: $100

Poems will be judged on literary excellence, spiritual tenor, and human authenticity. Winning poems will be published in The Merton Seasonal. Please go to their website for the rest of the contest guidelines, get in touch with your spiritual center and see where it leads you.

"On The Premises" Wants To Read Your Revelation!

Who hasn't believed something that turned out to be false? Web-based fiction magazine On the Premises is giving all of us to whom that's happened a chance to turn our sadder-but-wiser (or maybe happier-and-wiser ... it could happen), stories to our advantage in their current contest: Revelation. They publish winning stories in no-fee contests held every four months. Send them between 1,000 and 5,000 words of fiction in which one or more characters believes something that turns out to be false, by 11:59 pm EST, Tuesday, September 30th, for a chance to be published and win prizes:

• 1st prize: $140
• 2nd prize: $100
• 3rd prize: $70
• Honorable mention: $25 (Between 0 to 3 of these)

They're interested in compelling, well-crafted, creative stories that clearly use the premise, and all the stories they publish are the contest-winning entries. Send your submissions to entries(at)onthepremises(dot)com. If the premises of On the Premises intrigues you, please go to their website and check them out!

Got Bad Poetry? No: Really Really Really Bad Poetry?

This one looks like too much fun! It's the Winning Writers 8th Annual Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. All you need to do is submit a really awful poem to one of those bogus "vanity" poetry contests whose goal is to sell you expensive products and attract you to conferences. (There's a link to "contests to avoid" so you'll be able to find one of those easily enough). After you submit your parody poem to a vanity contest as a joke, submit it to the Wergle Flomp contest. They are looking for poems that are 1) Inspired nonsense, 2) Spectacularly awful, and/or 3) Intended to make fun of "vanity" contests. Prizes:

• First Prize: $1,359 and publication on WinningWriters.com
• Second Prize: $764 and publication on WinningWriters.com
• Third Prize: $338 and publication on WinningWriters.com
• Twelve honorable mentions will receive $72.95 each and publication on WinningWriters.com

Winning writers and honorable mentions will also receive Winning Writers polo shirts. There's no entry fee, and the deadline is April 1, 2009. Even if the contest is not for you, you'll have a blast reading the previous winning poems.

WritersWeekly.com's 24-Hour Short Story Contest!

This Writer's Weekly contest charges $5 in order to enter, but the premise is so intriguing I couldn't resist posting it here. You must enter the contest before the topic is posted; you cannot write your story first, and then enter. The start time is September 27, 2008 at 12:00 pm (noon) central time, and your story must be IN their inbox within 24 hours in order to qualify. This contest is held quarterly and limited to 500 entrants. Once you pay the 5-spot, you can download a pdf file of the contest guidelines. There are more than 85 prizes, including door prizes given at random, so there's many ways to come out a winner in this contest! Originality and good, strong endings are a priority. Please go to the contest webpage to check out the rules and guidelines (as well as all the prizes!), and then get ready to enjoy the creative stress you'll be in for ... perfect for those of you who work best under pressure!

Peace, Love and Rock 'n' Roll: Woodstock Revisited

Where were you in 1969? If you were at Woodstock and can come up with a true 850 to 1100 word story, you might want to submit it to Literary Cottage's Woodstock Revisited Anthology Contest. You'll have to hurry, though: the deadline is September 7, 2008. Adams Media will pay authors $100 per story, plus one copy of the anthology. Not only that, Literary Cottage offers prizes!

• 1st Prize: $100
• 2nd Prize: $75
• 3rd Prize: $50

So, if you were there and can remember the experience, or if you know someone who was (they are also accepting "as told to" stories), write from the heart, tell your story with imagery and humor, end with a satisfying conclusion, and email your story to sreynolds(at)literarycottage(dot)com. They have many guidelines for submissions as well as tips for writing a fabulous story, so please go to their website and check them out.

A Sign Of The Times???

Here's another war-related contest, but the folks at Diversion Press are looking for short stories, not poetry, for their upcoming anthology: War is All We Know. Their anthology is designed to collect the best FICTION on war; historical or other fiction is fine, but they do not want real-live battle stories! Each story must include, as a quote or somewhere else in the text, the phrase "War is all we know."
Prizes are :

• 1^st: $30 dollars
• 2nd: $20 dollars
• 3rd: $10 dollars

All three winners will have their short-stories published and receive a free copy, including free shipping, of the publication. Winners may also have their stories and name featured on their web-site. While only three prizes will be given, other work may be considered for publication in the anthology. Please go to their website to look at the rest of their submission and proposal guidelines.
You have until December 1st 2008 to get your 20 to 40 page story submitted to them. They prefer regular mail, [Diversion Press Inc., Attn: Acquisitions Editor, P.O. Box 30277, Clarksville, TN 37040] but will also accept your work via email at divisionpress(at)yahoo(dot)com.

What's In That Drawer?

Ya gotta love a contest that gives you a theme and lots of ideas with which to flush it out. (At least, I always do!) Here's one that especially intriguing: The Muse Marquee's Mother Hen Contest has it all: a cash prize of $25, no entry fee, and a link to an article with an amazing plethora of suggestions on what to write about and how to finesse it into your short story of 1,000 words or less (less is better). The deadline isn't until October 10th 2008, so you have plenty of time to be inspired, write and then submit your story to museitupeditor(at)yahoo(dot)ca. The winning story will also be published in their November 2008 issue!

The Best Advice You Ever Had ~

FundsforWriters, (and its annual sponsor IdeaWeaver), is announcing its 7th Annual FundsforWriters Essay Contest. FundsforWriters changes its theme every year; this year they are offering two topics to choose from that have one thing in common: write about the best advice you ever had.

• Topic 1: The Best Advice I Ever Had and Ignored
• Topic 2: The Best Advice I Ever Had and Followed.

FundsforWriters is "all about the writer," so your essay should be writing-related, or, at least will tie back into a writing lesson. The deadline is October 31, 2008, essays should be 750 words or less, and you have both No Fee and $5 Entry Fee options, (the $5 entry fee option has bigger prizes). Those that select the $5 entry fee option will also receive the ebook of their choice.
$5 Entry Fee Category:

• First Place: $200
• Second Place: $20 - and a free copy of IdeaWeaver software (a $49.95 value)
• Third Place: $10

No Entry Fee Category:

• First Place: $50
• Second Place: $20
• Third Place: $20

The same piece cannot be entered in both categories. Submit your entry in the body of an email to hope(at)fundsforwriters(dot)com. Please go to their website for the rest of the contest guidelines and to read previous winning essays.

WRITERS' Journal Poetry Contest ~

There's a small $3.00 entry fee for this one, but sometimes you have to "give a little to get a little," and who knows where this could lead for you, yes? The deadline for Writer's Journal Poetry Contest isn't until August 30, 2008, so you have plenty of time to fine-tune a poem of 25 lines or less. (Maybe bring one to your writer's group for them to critique!)

• 1st Prize: $50 plus publication in Writers' Journal
• 2nd Prize: $25 plus publication
• 3rd Prize: $15 plus publication
• Plus Honorable Mentions

Send your entries to "Poetry Contest," Val-Tech Media, P.O. Box 394, Perham, MN, 56573, with a check or money order payable to WRITERS' Journal. There's a few more guidelines, so please go to their website before you mail them your work.