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

​​ABILENE WRITER’S GUILD 2024 ANNUAL CONTEST RULES & CATEGORIES

General information:   abilenewritersguild.org

1. Open to any person age 15 or older.

2. Entries must be postmarked between Oct. 1, 2024, and Nov. 30, 2024.

3. Categories with fewer than 5 entries are not eligible for prizes but may be

critiqued if judges agree.  See page two for categories, details and fees.

4. All entries must be your original work, unpublished as of Oct. 1, 2024. 

Publication on the internet IS publication.  The work must not have earned

a cash award in any previous AWG Annual Contest! However, Honorable

Mentions from past annual contests may be re-entered and any AWG monthly

members-only-contest entry is eligible if it fits the category.  Font size 12, Times

New Roman preferred.  Type on one side of page.

5. Separate COVER SHEETS for each entry required.  Cover sheet set-up:

Upper left corner: your name, complete address, phone number and email address. 

Upper right corner: category and number of words or lines.   

Middle of page below corners, center your title on the cover sheet.

6. Do NOT count the title in your word count.  Author’s name goes

ONLY on the cover sheet.

First page of your Poetry/Flash Fiction, categories 1-4: List category and number

of lines or words in Upper Right Corner.  CENTER THE TITLE OF YOUR ENTRY;

double space down again and begin.  Single space these entries.  (Title of entry on

this page; NO author’s name!)

First page of categories 5-9: One-inch margins. Upper right corner: list category

and number of words.  CENTER YOUR TITLE, double-space entire manuscript..

On all following pages: list entry title and page number in upper right corner.

(Title only on p. 2,3,4 etc.; NO author’s name.)

Mail Entries!  STAPLE COVER SHEET TO EACH ENTRY!  Attach payment to

entries with a paper clip!  Fill in registration form or facsimile  Enclose self-addressed,

stamped envelope with adequate postage to return your entries and/or prize if

you win. Otherwise, entries will be discarded on or after May 31, 2024. (One stamp

per 5 pages in a #10 letter-size envelope. When in doubt, check with your post office.)

Our judges are asked to critique each entry, but we cannot guarantee same. Those

in the Abilene area may bring entries to AWG’s October and November meetings.

Reminder: As in other writing contests, entries not meeting the guidelines will be

disqualified and fees will not be refunded.  Please follow the rules carefully.  Decisions

of the judges are final.  Winners will be announced at our Annual Awards Workshop

in March 2025, and will be listed on our Website by April 15, 2025.  Prizes will be

mailed to winners who cannot attend the Workshop, but we must have your SASE. 

Please watch our website and/or Newsletter for location date, time and other details

of the March 2024 Workshop.  Entries will be available for pickup immediately

following the Workshop.

PRIZES:   Cat. 1-4   Cat. 5-9
First             $70          $100 

Second        $45              65

Third           $25             35

MAIL CONTEST ENTRIES AND FORM to:

S. Ellison, 862 Grand Ave, Abilene TX 79605                      

Email Questions to:  AWGWrite@gmail.com

Your phone number:_____________________

Your name: ___________________________

Street address:_________________________

City/State/Zip:_________________________

Your email address:______________________

May send cash, OR make check or money order payable to: Abilene Writers Guild

# of entries in Cat. 1-4  = _____ X $7.00 each  =  $_______________

# of entries in Cat. 5-8 = _____X $10.00 each  = $_______________ 

# of entries in Cat. 9 = _______X $15.00 each  = $______________

 Check Number ____________  Grand total $_______________

CATEGORIES, Max Words/Lines; Entry Fees

1. Rhymed Poetry, any style, 50 lines. $7

2. Unrhymed Poetry, any style, 50 lines ,$7

The five prompt words must be used in Flash Categories 3 and 4.*

*3. Flash Poetry: hamper, odor, prolific, ample, concerned--100 words, $7   

*4. Flash Fiction: reclaimed, infamous, worthy, difficult, orderly--100 words, $7

5. Children’s Stories  Preschool OR elementary age readers, 750 words, $10

6. Inspiration , Any form: prose/drama/religious, 1200 words., $10

7. Memoir/Nostalgia, Take reader back to a former time, 1200 words, $10

8.  Fiction for Adults , Short story for teens and older, 1200 words, $10

9.  Science Fiction, For teens and older, 2500 words, $15

Enter as many times as you wish in one or multiple categories!