Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest

Editor's Note: There's still a little bit of time to enter.

Welcome to the 26th annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest. Submit published or unpublished work. $5,000 in prizes.

Judges

Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Dennis Norris II

Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Lauren Singer Ledoux

Recent Winners

Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Joan Corwin
Length of Days

Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
Debbie Weingarten
The Mule Deer

Please submit between October 15, 2017 and April 30, 2018.

Prizes:

STORY: First Prize, $2,000
ESSAY: First Prize, $2,000
10 Honorable Mentions will receive $100 each (any category)
Top 12 entries published online

For this contest, a story is any short work of fiction, and an essay is any short work of nonfiction. Judge: Dennis Norris II, assisted by Lauren Singer. Please submit as many entries as you like. All themes accepted. Entries may be published or unpublished. Length limit: 6,000 words. No restrictions on age or country. Please click the Submittable button below for full details. Fee: $20 per entry. The results of our 26th annual contest will be announced on October 15, 2018.

For more information or to submit, click here.

Malice in Memphis wants your best shot!

 

If you think that you have what it takes to be the next world heavy-weight champion writer on the block -- then HIT US WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!

We want to see what you can dish out in between those piles of laundry, leftover spaghetti and that late night creative spell where you just have to write down that one inspiring idea. So here's your chance to write it down in 300 to 500 words and see if it pays off. The Malice in Memphis "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" Writing Contest runs from March 1 until May 1. Entry fee is $10 per submission. That's right... per submission. So that means you can do the one-two sucker punch, hit us with all you've got (meaning you can submit as many entries as you like) and cross your fingers that you come out a winner. So enter as many times as you want.

Finalists will be notified on or before June 15. Winners will be announced on the Malice in Memphis website, the Malice in Memphis Facebook page and the Dark Oak Press website.

The Prizes:

First Place: a cash prize of $100, an award certificate, publication on the Malice in Memphis website, and 1 year’s paid membership in Malice in Memphis with the ability to submit a short story for possible publication in a future Malice in Memphis anthology.

Second Place: a cash prize of $50, an award certificate, and the entry’s publication on the Malice in Memphis website.

Third Place:  a cash prize of $25, an award certificate, and publication on the Malice in Memphis website.

There will also be two Honorable Mentions.The winners will receive an award certificate and the submission’s publication on the Malice in Memphis website.

Expert Coaches:

Throughout the contest period, you can find tips and advice on writing compelling openings on the Malice in Memphis blog, so you'll know exactly what our judges will be looking for.
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Click here to step into the ring and come out swinging!

Pearl S. Buck Writing Center Short Story Contest

Pearl S. Buck   ~ 1st American Woman to win BOTH the Pulitzer and Nobel Prizes for Literature

“In a mood of faith and hope my work goes on.
A ream of fresh paper lies on my desk waiting for the next book.
I am a writer and I take up my pen to write.” –  Pearl S. Buck
Submissions will be accepted in three/3 age categories:

• Grades 3-6 – word count not to exceed 1000 words
• Grades 7-12 – word count not to exceed 1000 words
• Adult – word count not to exceed 2,500 words.
• A submission form must accompany all manuscripts
• Submissions must be received by April 15, 2017
• One winner in each age category will receive a $100 prize
• Winners will be announced at Pearl S. Buck’s 125th Memorial Birthday, June 26, 2017
  

Contest winners will be asked to re-submit their stories for publication on Pearl Buck Writing Center’s Blog site or in the PSB Literary Journal
 Contest submissions must be emailed to clouden@pearlsbuck.org by April 15, 2017.
Judges: Local authors and Pearl Buck Volunteers

General rules:

• All submissions must be sent by email only to clouden@pearlsbuck.org
• Story must be original and not previously published.
• Submission must be typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt font.
• Author’s Name, address, email address, phone # must be on the upper left corner of the first page.
• Word count printed on the upper right corner.
• A submission form must accompany all manuscripts
• All other pages must have author’s name on the upper left corner above the page number.

Contest sponsored by Pearl S. Buck Volunteer Association and the Pearl S. Buck Writing Center             
Pearl S. Buck International, 520 Dublin Rd. Perkasie, PA 18944 
www.pearlsbuck.org

See the original posting here: https://psbwritingcenter.org/2017/01/18/2017-short-story-writing-contest/

Want to win some money for your stories and/or poetry?

Del Garrett’s
TRIPLE SCOOP WRITING CONTEST

Hello.  My name is Del Garrett.  I’m  a writer, editor and a former publisher, and for years I have been sponsoring writing contests  for the Arkansas Writers’ Conference and the White County Creative Writers Conference.  I’ve decided to offer this Triple Scoop contest to other writers  so I’m reaching out to all writing clubs and encouraging you to include me in your lists of contest sponsors.

I’m doing this for two reasons.  I like to read and I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t first submitted to contests — so this is sort of my way to give something back to other writers.  Cold, hard cash!

Here are the rules and this year’s deadline.  I hope to hear from you and award you with prize money.

Triple Scoop means three chances to win!
Welcome to the Triple Scoop Fiction and Poetry contests.  You have three chances to win.  Prizes are $50 for 1st place; $35 for 2nd place and $15 for 3rd place.  Certificates awarded with cash prizes and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place Honorable Mention awards.

Contest Rules:
You may enter up to three submissions.  Each submission will be considered for all prizes. Entry fees are $5 for the first entry, $3 for each additional entry.  No more than three entries allowed.  Each submission must be no more than:  Fiction—three pages, double spaced, using any standard font of 12point size, on 8 ½ X 11-inch white bond paper.  Poetry—one page only, single or double spaced, using any standard font of 12-point size, on 8 ½ X 11-inch white bond paper. Do Not list your identification on the typed pages.  Staple all fiction submissions separately (do not staple poetry pages) and include a blank envelope sealed shut with the enclosed entry form provided below and your entry fee.

Restrictions:
No erotica and no political or racial comments. 
Do not mix prose and poetry—keep each contest separate.  No e-mail, paper submissions only.  Violations may result in disqualification. 

No refunds.

Mail all submissions to:
Del Garrett, 806 Rhoden Rd, Judsonia, AR 72081. 

Make checks or money orders payable to:  B. Odell Garrett.

Do Not Send Cash. 

All submissions will be shredded 30 days after the deadline.  All rights are automatically returned to the author effective January 1st, 2017. 

We do not publish your work. Contest Deadline is December 31st, 2016.

Winners will be announced and prizes mailed on March 1st, 2017.

For more information about me, please visit my web site: www.authorsden.com/delgarrett

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ENTRY FORM – Please Print Carefully
Fiction—Number of Entries:   1      2      3    (circle number) Total Entry Fee___________________
Poetry—Number of Entries:    1      2      3 (circle number)  Total Entry Fee___________________
Your Name ______________________________________________________________________
Pen Name for the Certificate? ________________________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________________________ E-Mail___________________________________________________________________________

Ideas Like Bullets -- How Well Do You Know Your Coppers?

It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me or has read this column more than once that I like mysteries and PI stories, Pulp fiction type things that revolve around gumshoes looking for clues and getting knocked out or somesuch while doing it.  It also is no secret that I like books.  And like is probably much too light a word.  Books complete me on many levels, and the reasons for that are probably the subjects of three or four more posts down the road. 

In a different and unique way, those two things merge together right here, right now.  That’s right, kiddoes…. Time for a contest.

Below You will find a list of characters, most of them Private Eye types, some of them more Pulp Hero, maybe even a couple of straight up comic super types. But, here’s the deal.  Every name listed below has a person in the law enforcement realm that is associated with them.  Most of them are at odds with their counterpart who carries a badge, but some are actually friends, even work hand in hand with the officers they know. 

So, what are the rules here? Simple.  List for each character below the police officer/Law Enforcement character that is associated with them.   You must put an answer for each one in order to be considered for the contest, no skipping or leaving blanks.  And yes, obviously if You want or need to, You can use Google or some other form of research, but just in case some of You have the knowledge base  to handle this sans help, please note that when you send your answers in. I’d like to know the genre geniuses out there, as this will involve everything from TV to old time radio to pulp magazines to comic books and so on and so forth.

Now, I know what you want to know. Is this just an exercise to stretch our minds in futility or is it a true contest?  Well, yes, there are prizes.  Three to be exact.  The first three people who get ALL the answers correct (yes, all, no ‘the most right wins’ here) will each receive a book featuring one of the characters on the list.  The book will be from my personal collection and of my choosing.  What that means is it could very well be a newer title or could go back as far as the 1930s or 40s, depending on the character and what mood I’m in.  And yes, I’ll pay postage, at least in the States. For you who play from across the waters, we’ll work something out.

Send your complete list of answers to braedenalex@centurytel.net with the subject heading IDEAS LIKE BULLETS CONTEST.  That’s important as I will be looking for those emails and, as I get quite a lot of mail during the day, might miss it otherwise.  There is no time limit on this really, just until I get three correct lists of answers or I get tired of waiting for them.

Also, be sure to include your mailing address with your entry in case you do win!

So, without further yadda yadda yadda, find below the aforementioned list of characters.  Tell me the police/Law Enforcement type that goes with each one.  And…yes, You know I have to say it… The Game… is indeed afoot.

1. The Saint (Charteris book version)
2. Mike Hammer
3. Peter Chambers
4. Spenser
5. Candy Matson
6. Simon & Simon
7. Dawson Clade, the Bat
8. John Shaft
9. Jim Rockford
10. The Green Lama
11. Peter Gunn
12. Richard Diamond
13. Starman (Comic hero)
14. The Fat Man (NOT of Jake and the… fame)
15. Boston Blackie

Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest Looking For Submissions

For more information, visit:  http://www.littletokyohs.org/short-story-contest-2016.html

Planetary Stories is launching a contest!

Each issue of Planetary Stories, Pulp Spirit and Wonderlust will be carrying the winner of that contest.

While making the above statement, I realize there is a chance it won't work out. We might not have enough winners, as there is only a few months before our first deadline, which will be September 15th. However, we will do our best to publicize this contest and make that statement come true.

There are three categories, one for stories 250 words or less, one for stories up to 500 words, and flash fiction up to 1,000 words. ONE WINNER PER CATEGORY. The winner in each category will receive five cents per word, as well as a book from the Featured Author. No duplicate entries are allowed.

Each Featured Author will have a book of his on display, similar to those on either side. Anyone can click on the book to purchase it, but the winner will receive a copy and his check.

Stories should be submitted to planetarystories@gmail.com. Single-spaced and 14 pt Arial or Times New Roman is suggested.

We at Planetary Stories are excited about this new development, and are anxious to see the beginning of the submissions.

A panel of judges will determine the winner.

For more info, visit http://www.planetarystories.com/ContestPage.htm