Carteret Writers, Inc.

Twenty-first Annual Writing Contest

Guidelines

Contest opens to entries January 1, 2012.   The contest is open to all writers.

Contest ends Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at the conclusion of the general membership meeting. 

 categories and submission criteria:

1. Flash Fiction: 750 words (approximately 3 pages) or less. 

2. Fiction: 3,000 words (approximately 12 pages) or less. May be a short story; chapter, abstracted portion of a chapter, summary, synopsis, excerpt or format of author's choice. Multiple entries may not be from the same book.

3. Nonfiction: 3,000 words (approximately 12 pages) or less. May be an essay; article; chapter, abstracted portion of a chapter, summary, synopsis, excerpt or format of author's choice. Multiple entries may not be from the same book.

4. Poetry: 50 lines or less per poem.

5. Writing for children: 2,000 words (approximately 8 pages) or less. Manuscripts must be suitable for children under the age of 13.

All entries must be text only � no illustrations of any kind.

 Awards to be given in each category:

            First place: $100 and a plaque *

            Second place: $50

            Third place: $25

* Plaques must be received at the awards dinner; none will be mailed. First, Second, Third Place and winners will be published in Carteret Writers literary journal, Shoal.  Honorable Mention entries will have the option of being published in Shoal.  Authors of winning entries must submit an electronic copy of their entries. Because of the cash prizes, copies of the Shoal are not included as a prize, but are available for purchase. (NOTE: Members of Carteret Writers receive a copy as part of their membership benefit.)

Note: A minimum of ten entries from ten different authors is required for a category to be judged. If this requirement is not met, the category will be eliminated and the entry fee will be refunded.

 Fees:Carteret Writers' members: $5.00 per entry

Non-members: $10.00 per entry

Checks payable to Carteret Writers must be included with entries at time of submission.  No cash accepted.

Note:If you submit multiple entries, consider a $30 membership in Carteret Writers, Inc. if it will reduce your costs. This also includes a free copy of the Shoal.  Send S.A.S.E. for membership application or download from our web site. All memberships expire June 30 of each year.

 Guidelines:

Submit two copies of each entry with one cover sheet. Entries must be unpublished at time of submission, typed on one side of 8-1/2" by 11" white paper, double-spaced (except poetry), with 1" margins all around. Use a fixed width 12 pt. font such as Courier New. Do not use a proportional font, such as Times New Roman. The author's name must NOT appear anywhere on the manuscript. Do not enclose your manuscript in a folder or hard cover of any kind. Entries may be stapled. 

Manuscripts not adhering to the guidelines will be disqualified. Entry fees will not be refunded.

Cover sheet: Each entry must be accompanied by a separate cover sheet.  See the last page of this document for a sample.  Multiple entries are NOT to be listed on the same cover sheet.  The cover sheet must provide ALL the following information:

Category, Title, Number of words (or poetry lines), Author's name,

Mailing address, phone number and email address. 

The second and all subsequent pages of each entry must have the entry category, a short version of the title, and the page number.  DO NOT include the author's name or any personal information on any page of the manuscript.

All manuscripts except first, second, and third place will be available for pickup at the awards dinner. If not picked up at that time, they will not be returned.

Judging will be BLIND, conducted by published authors, journalists or other professionals in the field of writing who are not members of Carteret Writers. Criteria are originality and literary quality.  All decisions by the judges are final.

Hand delivered entries may be submitted at the January, February, or March meetings of Carteret Writers, on the second Tuesday of each month.  Meetings are held at Golden Corral Restaurant in Morehead City at 11:30 a.m. Visitors are welcome.

Mailed entries must REACH the Carteret Writers  post office box by March 13, 2012. 

Address to: 

Writing Contest

Carteret Writers, Inc.

P.O. Box 2284

Morehead City, NC  28557

Awards Dinner: Wednesday, May 9, 2012, 6:00 p.m. at the Golden Corral, 4060 Arendell St., Morehead City, NC.  Dinner is pay-as-you-go (not included).  We meet in room #1, the larger room to the right after the cashier.  Activities begin at 6:45 p.m.

Winners' names will be posted on our web site, carteretwriters.org, soon after the awards dinner.

Questions?  Please contact Eryn Kawecki at carteretwriters@gmail.com

SAMPLE COVER SHEET

CARTERET WRITERS, INC.

TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL WRITING CONTEST2

2012

                                    Category:                        Flash Fiction (poetry, etc.)

                                    Title:                                     Very short title

                                    # lines (poetry)                        xx

                                    # words (prose)             xxxx 

                                    Author:                          John C. Writer

                                    Address:                        123 ABC Street

                                                                        Authorsville, NC 00000

                                    Telephone:                         000-000-0000

                                    Email Address:       REQUIRED!!!!!   jwriter@abcde.com

PLEASE CHECK:      I plan [   ]      do not plan [   }     to attend the awards dinner in May. 

I warrant to Carteret Writers that my manuscript is original, that I am the sole author, and that this manuscript has not been previously published in any form. I indemnify Carteret Writers against any losses and other expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, after final judgment of any claim or action against any or all of these warranties.

If my entry places in the contest, I grant Carteret Writers one-time use of my manuscript in their literary journal in exchange for the prize money received from the contest.

______________________________            Date:______________

Signature