CONTESTS
AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

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Disclaimer: Although I try to find contests, conferences, workshops, and other events that are legit and beneficial to writers, I can't guarantee anything. I always try to include a URL or other contact information so you can check them out and make your own decisions.

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AMERICAN LITERARY REVIEW CONTESTS

Deadline: September 1, 2008

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Three categories:
Short Fiction
Creative Nonfiction
Poetry

The winner in each category will receive $ 1,000 and publication in our Fall 2009 issue

Enclose a $15.00 reading fee (includes subscription) and a SASE for contest results. Multiple entries are acceptable; however each entry must be accompanied by a reading fee. (Note: only the initial entry fee includes a subscription. Subsequent entry fees go to contest costs only and will not extend the subscription.)

Short Fiction: One work of fiction per entry ($15), limit 8,000 words per work.

Creative Nonfiction: One work per entry fee, limit 6, 500 words per work.

Poetry: Entry fee covers up to three poems (i.e. one to three poems would require an entry fee of $15; four to six poems would $30, and so on.)

http://www.engl.unt.edu/alr/contests.html

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TONY HILLERMAN MYSTERY SHORT STORY WRITING CONTEST

Deadline: September 15, 2008

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We want your very best mystery short story, set in the Western or Southwestern United States. The story must include at least one cowboy and/or Native American character. We’re looking for compelling, original, well-written stories that have not been previously published.

Submit mystery short stories that are 2,500 words or less, written in English. The story must be previously unpublished.

Each entry must be accompanied by a check or money order for $15. (U.S. funds only and not on foreign banks) Multiple entries by the same writer are allowed. (Critiques are available for an additional $100. The critique process is separate from the judging and has no bearing on the result.)

The winning story will receive a cash prize of $1500 and will be published in an upcoming issue of Cowboys & Indians Magazine.

http://www.wordharvest.com/index.php/contests/shortstory

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GR8 AM TXT STRY CONTEST
Sponsor: NewTree Chocolates

Deadline: September 19, 2008

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Contest participants submit an original never-been-published-before short story via a cell phone text message (no longer than 1,500 words).

The short story must include all eleven NEWTREE flavor names within the text (i.e. PLEASURE, RENEW, TRANQUILITY), though the story does not have to be about chocolate.

All entries become the property of NEWTREE America, Inc. and will not be returned.

You may enter more than one unique entry, but each entry must be submitted separately.

Grand Prize: Free chocolate for a year (one chocolate bar a day) and the newest Apple iPhone.

http://www.newtree.com/images/Rules.pdf

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THE MOVIE DEAL SCREENPLAY CONTEST 2008

Deadline: September 30, 2008

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Categories:
Drama, Horror/Thriller, Comedy, Historical, Action/Adventure, Science Fiction, Animation/Fantasy, Family, TV Pilots, and
Shorts

Respected industry judges

Potential review for representation by a Hollywood Literary Agency

A chance to have your movie made

This contest is open to anyone except all employees, directors, associates, and immediate families of THE MOVIE DEAL! Screenplay contest.

Multiple entries are permissible, but each entry must be accompanied by a separate Entry Form and entry fee.

Entry fee: $50 per script/pilot or $20 per short

http://www.themoviedeal.com/

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TOM HOWARD/JOHN H. REID POETRY CONTEST

Deadline: September 30, 2008

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What to Submit: Poetry in any style or theme. Your entry should be your own original work. You may submit the same poem simultaneously to this contest and to others, and you may submit poems that have been published or won prizes elsewhere, as long as you own the online publication rights.

Prizes and Publication:
First prize: $2,000. Second prize: $1,000. Third prize: $500. Fourth prize: $250. There will also be five High Distinction Awards of $200 each, and five Most Highly Commended Awards of $100 each. The top 14 entries will be published on the Winning Writers website (over one million page views per year) and announced in Tom Howard Contest News and the Winning Writers Newsletter, a combined audience of over 20,000 readers.

Entry Fee: The reading fee is $6 for every 25 lines you submit.

If your entry wins any cash prize, you agree to give both John H. Reid and Winning Writers a nonexclusive license to publish your work online.

http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/tompoetry/tp_guidelines.php

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HACKNEY LITERARY AWARDS
NOVEL CATEGORY

Deadline: September 30, 2008

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Length is open. No provisions are available for publication; rights revert to winner to seek placement.

The entry fee is $25.00 per entry.

No novel entry will be accepted before June 1, 2008, and deadline for accepting entries is September 30, 2008 (postmark).

Only original, unpublished manuscripts may be entered.

Manuscripts cannot be returned.

Sponsored since 1969 by the Cecil Hackney family of Birmingham, the competition awards a $5,000 prize sponsored by Morris Hackney for an unpublished novel.

The winners will be announced at the Birmingham-Southern College Writing Today Conference on March 13-14, 2009.

http://www.bsc.edu/events/writing-today/hackney.htm

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ZIRDLAND.COM NOVEL COMPETITION

Deadline: October 1, 2008

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After 4 years of development, it’s ready. Zirdland’s Story Arc Angel and analysis tool is in beta test right now. You can help us by entering our new contest. All you need is a completed novel that is unpublished. (Self-published works are acceptable.)

Your novel will be analyzed and scored against other entries. We’ll post a list of the current standings as new entries are processed.

We’ll announce the winner on October 10th, 2008.

The content of your novel will remain private. We will post a short excerpt from the top three entries, but otherwise the content of your work will not be shared with anyone.

Enter your novel here and then visit ZirdNEWS.com to monitor the contest standings.

On 10/10/08 you could be $1,000 richer!

https://www.zirdland.com/contest.php

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7TH ANNUAL FUNDSFORWRITERS ESSAY CONTEST

Deadline: October 31, 2008

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Theme for 2008: The Best Advice I Ever Had

TOPIC 1 - The Best Advice I ever had and IGNORED

TOPIC 2 - The Best Advice I ever had and FOLLOWED

We offer two categories - the $5 FEE category and the NO FEE category.

Prizes:
$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 - $10

Not to exceed 750 words.
Essay/nonfiction only.

http://www.fundsforwriters.com/annualcontest.htm

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THE W.Y. BOYD LITERARY AWARD "For Excellence in Military Fiction"

Deadline: December 1, 2008

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An annual award consisting of $5,000 and a 24k gold-framed citation of achievement honoring the best fiction set in a
period when the United States was at war. It recognizes the service of American veterans and military personnel and encourages the writing and publishing of outstanding war-related fiction for young adults or adults.

Publishers or authors are requested to submit seven copies of books which meet the following criteria:
* novel has been published during the year prior to the award

* incidents of war can constitute the main plot of the story or merely provide the setting

* Young adult and adult novels only

Juries will examine each book for excellence of writing, attention to detail, accuracy, and the ability to hold the reader's interest.

http://www.ala.org/ala/awardsbucket/wyboydaward/wyboydaward.cfm

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SHOMI TRAILER CONTEST

Deadline: December 30, 2008

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Create your very own book trailer based on your favorite SHOMI novel and win a trailer premiere in New York City and at your local theater!

The Second Prize consists of a $500 USD gift certificate from Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.

The SHOMI Trailer Contest—arranged in partnership between Dorchester Publishing Co., Circle of Seven Productions, and internationally bestselling author Stephen King—challenges filmmakers to channel their literary experience into a visual one.

Trailers -- 90 to 105 second duration

To assist contestants in the creative process, Dorchester has provided tools such as high resolution cover art, author photos, plot synopses, review citations, and the SHOMI logo. All creative content not provided on the site—including music, script, video, and images—must be original.

Video submissions are the property of Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc. and may be edited and used at their sole discretion.

http://www.shomifiction.com/contests.html

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HACKNEY LITERARY AWARDS
SHORT STORY CATEGORY

Deadline: December 31, 2008

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Length not to exceed 5,000 words per story.

The fee is $10.00 per entry.

Entries will not be accepted before October 1, 2008, and entry deadline will be December 31, 2008 (postmark).

Entries should be typed and doubled-spaced.

Only original, unpublished manuscripts may be entered.

Open to writers nationwide.

Manuscripts cannot be returned.

The competition awards $5,000 in annual prizes for poetry and short fiction, ($2,500 national and $2,500 state level; 1st place, $600; 2nd place, $400; and 3rd place, $250)

http://www.bsc.edu/events/writing-today/hackney.htm

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THE CLAYMORE DAGGER AWARD
Killer Nashville 2009

Deadline: May 5, 2009

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Staying true to the spirit of Killer Nashville and our efforts to help support the up-and-coming writer, as well as the published professional, we are giving an award recognizing the most outstanding manuscript submitted that has yet to be published.

In addition to the physical Claymore Dagger Award itself and the honor of having won it, the winner is also eligible for a publishing contract. Our sponsoring publisher agrees to consider publishing the finished manuscript.

Fee: $25

Entry: First 50 pages of your manuscript

A committee of experienced, dedicated readers and writers including past and current Killer Nashville attendees will review all submissions. They will recommend and submit ten manuscripts to our sponsoring publisher, whose editors will make the final decision and award the Claymore Dagger Award to the winning author.

http://killernashville.com/Content2008/awardsclaymore2008.htm