AWG Members Only Monthly Contest

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                        Welcome

Objectives:   To study methods of writing and research,
      To develop our talents as writers,
          To promote interest in writing, and
                       To encourage our fellow writers at all times

                                                       Members Only Monthly Contest – 2023

 
Exclusive: For current members of AWG only. All entries eligible for Annual Contest. No fees!

Judging: Judges are professionals who may or may not choose to critique entries. Choice of winners is final. If there are fewer than four entries per category in double category months, categories will be combined. Six entries per month are required for judging.

Prizes: $20 first prize and $15 second prize. You are encouraged to attend the meetings to pick up your check. Otherwise, they will be mailed to the physical address provided.

Pay careful attention to all guidelines.

Deadline: Submissions received any time after the 12th of the previous month, but due by the 12th of the contest month.

Enter by Email Only: Send documents as attachments with the cover sheet separate from the entry and both in Word format only. Subject Line should state: AWG Contest and “Month” (e.g. January). Entries will be returned to the email on coversheet. Warning: some devices may not transmit document correctly, thus disqualifying entry. AWG will respond within five days. It is entrant’s responsibility to verify and resend.

Send to:   awg.entry@yahoo.com

Mix & Match: Submit up to 3 entries per month. Enter poetry, prose, or both. Blended themes are acceptable. Must be original work unpublished at deadline (includes Internet posts).

** You may send up to 3 entries and accompanying cover sheets in the same email, but all cover sheets and entries must be separate attachments.**

Cover Sheet Format:  Top left: author’s name, physical address (to mail prize check), telephone number, and email. Top right: Chosen month of entry, word count for Prose and Flash entries or line count for poetry. (Do not count the title when determining line or word counts.) Title of entry should be centered midway down the page.

Entry Format:  Do not include author name or other information on any page. Minimum one-inch margins; prose double spaced; poetry single or double spaced. First page: center title at top, double space then start text. Number subsequent pages at the top center or top right.

MONTH                THEME                                                                   CATEGORY

JANUARY       No contest this month.  Extra writing time for February

FEBRUARY    People, Places, Projects                                       Poetry – 50 lines or less; Non-Fiction – 1,000 words or less

MARCH          Flash entry: Fiction or Poetry                            100 max words using the 5 prompt words

Mandatory words: time, shift, ordinary, spring, touch

APRIL             Nat'l Poetry Month no theme, no theme         Rhymed or Unrhymed Poetry., 50 lines or less

MAY                National Short Story Month, no theme            Fiction – 1,000 words or less

JUNE               Non-Fiction Month. no theme                           Non-Fiction – 1,000 words or less

JULY                Historical, Fantasy, Western                               Poetry – 50 lines or less; Fiction – 1,000 words or less

AUGUST         Flash entry: Fiction or Poetry                            100 max words using the 5 prompt words

Mandatory words: hand, sound, tumble, pound, prompt

Flash Fiction/Poetry use 5 mandatory prompt words, or close form and meaning, like: Oil = oiled, oils, oiling, oiler, oily not spoil or foil; boat = lifeboat; speak = unspeakable, not spoken; place = placement; defect = defection or defective.

After a several month dry spell, the August contest was a done deal!  The winners were:

Poetry:

First Place, Chuck Webber, “Tie Me to the Mast” 

Second Place, Sharon Ellison, “Not a Poet” 

Prose:

First Place, Mary Berry, “I Can Say Anything”

Second Place: Silvia Forbes, “Promise Unfulfilled”

This contest will resume in February 2024.  Watch this space for future winners!

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