CONTEST RULES

SLO Nightwriters Golden Quill Writing Contest

Contest Rules

Call for Entries:     

Entries accepted beginning June 15, 2017

Deadline:

All entries and payment must be received by 11:59 p.m. September 15, 2017

Theme: The theme of the 2017 Contest is LIBERATION.  All entries must depict this theme, originally interpreted.  It is not necessary to include the word.

Categories:

Flash / Short Fiction:         Up to 1,500 words

Poetry:                             Up to 40 lines

Creative Non-Fiction:         Up to 1,500 words

Flash / Short Fiction must comprise a complete story within the word limit.

Creative Non-Fiction must be a true story and may include personal stories, memoir or personal essays.  Stories selected as finalists may undergo a fact-checking process; documentation of sources is not required with submission, but may be requested. 

Hyphenated words count as two words.

Contestant Eligibility: All writers from any locale are welcome to submit entries.   Contest Advisory Committee and SLO Nightwriters Board members are not eligible.  Contest Judges and Sponsor members are not eligible.  Contestants may not win for the same story in more than one category.  Entrants must be 18 years of age or older.

Entry Eligibility:  Entries must be the original unpublished works of the authors and not previously accepted for publication.  Entries that have previously won a contest prize are not eligible.  Non-published pieces written on-line that are not for sale, e.g. a blog site, are eligible. 

Prizes:  Prizes will be awarded as follows for each category:

First Place               $500 

Second Place           $250 

Third Place              $100 

Finalists:                 All top finalists will receive Finalist Certificates.

Submission, Fees and Payments:

Entries are only accepted via Submittable, a secure online submissions management tool.  Applicants may enter more than one category, and submit more than one entry in any category.  An entry fee must be paid for each entry.  Please note once an entry has been submitted we are unable to accept revisions to that piece or issue refunds.  If you want to revise your submission you may do so as a separate entry with payment of the new entry fee.  Please rename the resubmission.  Entries will not be returned.  Payment of contest entry fees confirms you have read, understand and agree to the terms of all contest rules.

Entry Fee:             $15.00

Payment:  Payments are accepted online via Submittable, on this site at SLONWGoldenQuillWritingContest.com and SLONightwriters.org on the Submit Here link.

Deadline:  The contest deadline is September 15, 2017, 11:59 p.m.  All entries must be received prior to midnight on this date to be eligible.  All entries must be paid in full by this date to be eligible.

Judging:  Contest Judges will score each entry.  Judging will be blind – the contestant’s name will not be included with the entry.  A standardized quantitative scoring sheet will be used by each judge.  The decisions of the judges are final.

Please reference the Contest Website at SLONightwritersGoldenQuill.com for more information on all judging criteria, and to see the judges’ profiles.

Formatting Instructions: 

·       All entries must follow this formatting.  Submissions that do not comply with these instructions will be disqualified.

·       All entries must be submitted electronically via Submittable.

·       Use 12-point size Courier, Times New Roman or Ariel type font only

·       Use Word .doc or .docx only. 

·       Flash/Short Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction must be double-spaced with a minimum of 1” margins all around, and include page numbers.

·       Poems may be creatively spaced and formatted; include page numbers if needed

·       The header of each page must include the title, entry category and word/line count only.

·       No identifying information is to be placed on the entry itself.  Do NOT upload a cover sheet with the entry

Notification:  The top ten finalists and winning entrants will be notified via the email address provided.  Other entrants will not be notified.

Announcements:  Winners will be announced at the SLO Nightwriters meeting and Awards Ceremony November 14, 2017.

Publication: All rights belong to the authors.  Winning contestants will be announced on the SLO Nightwriters Golden Quill Writers Contest and SLO Nightwriters websites.  Contestants may have the opportunity to have their winning entry posted on line as well.