Abilene Writers Guild
Abilene, Texas, U.S.A.
"Not failure, but low aim, is crime." (Lowell)
P.O. Box 2562—Abilene, Texas 79604
Monthly meetings are the fourth Thursday at 7:00 P.M.
Meeting at the Center for Contemporary Arts, 220 Cypress St.

     Abilene Writers Guild has an annual contest open to the public with small entry fees and significant cash prizes. For the 2008 contest, the fees are $5 for seven of the categories and $10 for three novel categories. Each of the ten categories has a first prize of $100, second of $65, and third of $35. Judging is done by qualified professionals, many of whom include comments and suggestions on each entry. Rules for the contest are posted below and submissions are accepted during the months of September and October, 2008. Each year we have approximately four hundred entries from all over the world. For information on the 2007 and earlier contest with winners noted, click here.

ABILENE WRITERS GUILD ANNUAL CONTEST 2008 - 2009
RULES and ENTRY FORM

Postmark dates for entries begin September 1, 2008 and end October 31, 2008. CATEGORIES AND MAXIMUM LENGTHS $5.00 each short entry $10.00 each novel entry
1. Poetry, rhymed 50 lines
2. Poetry, unrhymed 50 lines
3. Flash Fiction 250 words
4. Children's Stories for readers ages 3 to 8 1,000 words
5. Articles of General Interest1,200 words
6. Compositions of Inspiration1,200 words
7. Memoir/Nostalgia 1,200 words
8. Fiction for Adults 1,200 words
9 and 10. Novel First 10 pages AND a 1-page, double-spaced synopsis of your book
  9: Adventure/Sci-Fi/Mystery/Fantasy/Horror/Young Adult
  10: Mainstream/Romance/Western/Literary
DESCRIPTION OF CATEGORIES:

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

3. Flash Fiction: up to 250 words, exclusive of title, telling a story with a beginning, middle and end.

4. Children's Stories for readers ages 3 to 8: Stories can be for pre-school or elementary age readers, but do not have to include both age groups. Stories for teens and young adults should be entered in the Fiction for Adults category. (Do not send illustrations.)

5. 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.

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

7. 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...?

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

9, and 10. Novel: The first 10 pages AND a synopsis of no more than one 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 (9 or 10).

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.

Guidelines are also available at the AWG website: www.abilenewritersguild.org

ALL ENTRIES: This must be your original work, unpublished as of September 1, 2008. Publication on the Internet is publication unless the publication is limited as to access. Your entry must not have earned a cash award in any previous AWG annual contest. Honorable Mentions from past contests may be re-entered. (Any AWG monthly members contest entry is eligible.) Use font size 11 or 12. No fancy fonts! Text should be 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 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, without author's name.

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 without author's name.

MAILING PROCEDURES: Entries must be postmarked no earlier than September 1, 2008 and not later than October 31, 2008. Email entries are not accepted. 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. Our judges often write comments directly on the manuscript; we recommend a SASE sufficient to return the manuscript. Failure to include an SASE with sufficient postage results in your entry being destroyed after May 31, 2009. Entries must be mailed to the address below or brought to AWG September or October meeting.

FEES: $5.00 for each short piece, $10.00 for each book entry. Make money order or check payable to ABILENE WRITERS GUILD. Entries not meeting guidelines will be disregarded and entry fees will not be refunded.

CRITIQUES: Each entry will be judged, some 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.

Awards will be presented at the Annual Awards Workshop & Luncheon on Saturday, March 21, 2009.

Please check our website and/or newsletter for details of the 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. Winners will be announced on www.abilenewritersguild.org by Sunday, March 22, 2009

Click here for printable ABILENE WRITERS GUILD 2008-2009 CONTEST ENTRY FORM. For a printable copy of these rules, click here.

MAIL TO:
Barbara Darnall
726 Davis Dr.
Abilene TX 79605
325-673-9376
EMAIL INQUIRIES: AWG@AbileneWritersGuild.org

Include this information, whether on printed form or typed:
Your Name, Address, Phone and Email address (if any)

TOTAL number of non-novel entries at $5
TOTAL number of novel entries at $10
TOTAL of enclosed check or money order payable to Abilene Writers Guild