2012 Contests
All entries must be postmarked and mailed to Audrey Stallsmith at 87 East Pines Road, Hadley, PA 16130 by April 7, 2012. There is no charge if you have registered for the conference.
Envelopes and entries should be clearly marked CONTEST. You must include a cover sheet with your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (if you have one). The cover sheet should also list your entry categories, and manuscript titles. Please do not put your name on your manuscripts.
You may enter as many categories as you’d like, but enter each category only once. The poetry contest is the exception: enter either beginning or advanced poetry, but not both.
Poetry Contests
Beginning Poetry: You may enter one poem, in any poetic style, with a total of 40 lines or less (not counting the title and byline). This is for newbies, not humble poets—if you’ve placed in this category before, don’t play again.
Light Verse: You may enter one poem, with a total of 40 lines or less (not counting the title and byline). Make us laugh.
Advanced Poetry: If you have placed in the Beginning Poetry contest in years past or have had poems published elsewhere, it is time to enter here. You may enter one poem, in any poetic style, with a total of 40 lines or less (not counting the title and byline).
Fiction Contests
Novel Beginning: You may send one entry, of 1,000 words or less, which is the beginning of a novel in any genre. This may be aimed at either adults or young adults.
Short Story: You may send one complete short story, of 1,500 words or less, in any genre. This may be aimed at either adults or young adults.
Children’s Story: You may enter one picture book or children's story for a magazine, complete in 1,000 words or less.
Nonfiction Contests
Devotional: You may enter one devotional of 250 words or less. A scripture and/or prayer are optional, but should be included in the word count if used.
Creative Nonfiction/Memoir: You may enter one real-life incident, of 1,000 words or less, on the theme "An Embarrassment of Embarrassment,"--meaning, of course, an abundance of "egg on your face!" This should be about an embarrassing incident from your own life or one that you witnessed in someone else's. You may change the characters' names if you like, but it must be a true incident.
Blog: You may enter one blog posting of 500 words or less on any subject.
As you can see by the list of last year's prize-winners--displayed in the right-hand column--our judges don't always award all of the prizes in all of the categories. We require that the first-place piece be publishable as it is, that the second-place piece be publishable with only some minor revisions, and etc. So please send only your best work!
If you are unsure of the manuscript format for some entries, you can easily find that information online. Except for poetry, manuscripts should always be double spaced.