THUNDER BAY – The Northwestern Ontario Writers Workshop’s 13th Annual Writing Contest are seeking your entries for the contest. There are three Categories, which will be decided by distinguished Judges, and nine prizes awarded.
Categories:
Poetry: One entry consists of 3 to 5 poems, which must have a combined length of from 50 lines minimum up to 100 lines maximum. Poems may be in any style and on any theme. Final Judge: Ann Compton.
Fiction: Each story must be between 2000 and 3500 words (not counting the title). Final Judge: Fred Stenson.
Scriptwriting: One entry must not exceed 10 pages, with a running time not exceeding 10 minutes. The cast of the piece must not exceed four people. Entries should be formatted for stage, screen, or television. Please note that film treatments are not accepted. Final Judge: Dave Carley
Prizes (three prizes per category)
1st prize: $125
2nd prize: $75
3rd prize: $50
Entry Fee: Entry is free for paid-up members of NOWW (you may join online at www.nowwwriters.org). Non-members must pay a non-refundable fee of $10 (Canadian or U.S. funds) per entry. NOWW cannot be responsible for cash; please pay by cheque or money order. Please make your cheque payable to NOWW and include it with your entries. You may submit up to two entries in each category.
Eligible Writers: This contest is open to writers aged 18 and older.
Deadline: Entries must be postmarked or hand-delivered no later than midnight on Monday, March 15, 2011.
Rules:
Entries must be original and unpublished.
Any entries bearing the writer’s name will be disqualified.
Writers agree that winning entries may be read at NOWW’s Literary Awards Party, published online, and published in NOWW’s newsletter without compensation to the author beyond that of the awarded prize money. With these exceptions, the author retains copyright in all work submitted. Winning entries may be edited before publication.
Winners must provide a photo and brief biography.
Entries will not be returned.
Judging Process
Judging is blind, with screeners selecting six finalists per category to be sent to a final judge.
The judges reserve the right not to select winners, if, in their opinion, none of the entries is of publishable quality.
Results: Winners will be announced at NOWW’s Literary Awards Party on May 21, 2011, and on our website, nowwwriters.org.
How to submit: You may submit up to two entries in each category. Each entry requires a fee (free to NOWW members).
Prose manuscripts must be typed and double-spaced.
Poetry must be typed and single-spaced on white paper in a 12 pt. standard font.
Each entry must be accompanied either by an entry form or by a separate piece of paper containing the following information: the author’s name, address, phone number, and e-mail address; the title of the submission (if any); the category; the line count (for Poetry) or word count (for Fiction) or pages (for Scriptwriting); and how or where you heard about this contest.
Electronic submissions are NOT accepted.
Word counts must be exact, not estimates.
Format that Script!
If you would like to enter the Scriptwriting category of NOWW’s 13th Annual Writing Contest but haven’t a clue how to format your work, here are some scriptwriting web sites that offer helpful advice.
BBC Writers Room: www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/writing/tips_tvdrama.shtml (An informative web site for all writers.)
Screenwriting Secrets: www.screenwritingsecrets.com/script-format-sample.html (John Scott Lewinski provides a script format sample interspersed with explanatory text.)
Virginia Commonwealth University Playwriting Seminars: http://www.vcu.edu/arts/playwriting/format.html (Provides sample formats specifically related to playwriting.)
Mail your entries and entry fees to:
NOWW Writing Contest, 2041 Sills Street, Thunder Bay ON P7E 5S8
For more information, call Amy at 807-475-7628 or e-mail admin@nowwwriters.org.