ABILENE WRITERS GUILD CONTEST 2006
RULES and ENTRY FORM

Postmark deadline for entries is July 31, 2006

CATEGORIES AND MAXIMUM LENGTHS

Entry Fee: $5.00 each short piece      $10.00 novels

CATEGORIES AND MAXIMUM LENGTHS


$5.00 each short entry     $10.00 each novel entry
1.Poetry, rhymed50 lines
2.Poetry, unrhymed50 lines
3.Children's Stories for readers ages 3 to 8 1000 words
4.Articles of General Interest1200 words
5.Inspiration1200 words
6.Memoir/Nostalgia1200 words
7.Fiction for Adults1200 words
8 and 9NovelFirst 10 pages AND a 1-page, double-spaced synopsis of your book
 8: Adventure/Sci-Fi/Mystery/Fantasy/Horror/Other 
 9: Mainstream/Romance/Western 
No limit on the number of entries
An entry may be entered in more than one category

DESCRIPTION OF CATEGORIES:

1 and 2. Poetry: Poems, rhymed or unrhymed, in any style, may be in stanzas or free verse.

3. Children's Stories for readers ages 3 – 8: Stories can be for pre-school or elementary age readers, but do not have to include both age groups. Stories for teens should be entered in the Fiction for Adults category.

4. Articles of General Interest:Compositions of general information, not personal in nature, about history, people, events, or places; suitable for publication in newspapers, magazines or journals.

5. Inspiration: Compositions about a person or event which inspired the writer or others. May be prose, drama, or script. Does not have to be religious in nature.

6. Memoirs/Nostalgia: Writing of a more personal nature that takes the writer and reader back to a former time. A family member or mentor may have guided or offered encouragement, or an event may evoke heartfelt emotions in the writer or reader. Remember when....?

7. Fiction: Stories for adults may be flash, mainstream or genre fiction, including mystery/suspense, romance, western, science fiction, fantasy, horror, action/adventure, contemporary, historical, literary, and other.

8 and 9. Novel:The first 10 pages AND a synopsis of no more than 1 page, double-spaced. The synopsis should include information about the book's plot, characterization, and setting. The judges need to know where the book is headed and an idea of how the writer is going to get there. Please label which category (8 or 9).

You do NOT have to be a member of Abilene Writers Guild to enter or win the contest, nor do you have to attend the workshop/awards luncheon.



ALL ENTRIES: This must be your original work, unpublished as of July 1, 2006, and must not have earned a cash award in any previous AWG contest (annual or monthly). Honorable Mentions from past contests may be re-entered. Use font size 11 or 12. No fancy fonts! Type on only one side of each page.

COVER SHEET: Each entry must have a cover sheet. Put name, complete address, telephone number, and e-mail address in upper left corner. In upper right corner, list category and number of words or lines. Novel entries do not need to list word count. Double-space 6 times and center the title. DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME ON ANY OTHER PAGE.

PROSE: Entries must be typed and double-spaced, with one-inch margins. Double-space eight times, center title, double-space again, and begin manuscript. On each succeeding page of manuscript, type title and page number in upper right corner.

POETRY:Poems must be typed, but may be single-spaced and may begin at top of page. List number of text lines in upper right corner. On each succeeding page, type title and page number in upper right corner.

MAILING PROCEDURES: Entries must be postmarked on or before July 31, 2006. Fasten cover sheet and manuscript of each entry with a paper clip. DO NOT STAPLE ANYTHING. Entries that do not conform to these rules may be disqualified. Send SASE if you wish your entry returned, or if you want judges' comments. SASE must include adequate postage in order for entries to be returned.

NOTE:Entries must be mailed to the contest coordinator or brought to a June or July AWG meeting.

FEES: $5.00 for each short piece, $10.00 for novel entries. Make money order or check payable to ABILENE WRITERS GUILD.

PRIZES: First Place: $100; Second Place: $65; Third Place: $35.

CRITIQUES: Each entry will be judged by a first-round judge, and selected finalists will advance to final judging. Our judges, professionals in their fields, are asked to critique each manuscript, but we cannot guarantee that all judges will comply. Decisions of the judges are final.

PRIZES!
First Place: $100
Second Place: $65
Third Place: $35

Awards will be presented at the Annual Awards Workshop & Luncheon on Saturday, October 21, 2006. Please check our website and/or newsletter for location of workshop/awards luncheon. Entries may be picked up after the luncheon. If NOT attending workshop or luncheon, please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with sufficient postage for return of your manuscripts (if you want them back) or for any judges' comments or critique.

This project is funded in part by a grant from the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, the City of Abilene, Taylor County, and the Downtown Revitalization Program of the Increment Finance District.


For a printable Contest Entry Form, Click here The winners will be recognized and announced at a luncheon following our Fall Workshop on October 21, 2006. Dusty Richards, author of 65 published books, is the speaker, so you'll want to come to the workshop and the luncheon. A link for a workshop reservation will be added later and announced on the home page. To be notified of changes to the AWG site, click here.