Heiress Productions Playwriting Competition 2012

Deadline: 1 August 2012

Heiress Productions, Inc is a not-for-profit organization committed to raising cancer awareness and funds through entertaining and inspirational professional theater productions.

Heiress Productions is now accepting submissions for its 2012 Playwriting Competition! Here’s how to enter:

Scripts should be full-length and mostly comedic in nature (or with major comedic elements). In addition, the plays should be unpublished and should not have been produced in NYC. Submissions will be accepted through August 1, 2012. The prize for the winning play(s) will be a complete reading in NYC produced by Heiress Productions with the potential of being fully produced at a later date.

For consideration, please send the following materials to scripts@heiressproductions.org -

1. Cover Letter

2. Synopsis

3. Ten (10) representative pages.

These will be the basis for the first round of consideration. Scripts selected to continue will be read in their entirety by the judging panel.

4. Resume of the playwright(s)

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries/ submissions: scripts@heiressproductions.org

Website: http://www.heiressproductions.org

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Free to Enter: Goethe Institut's Modern Grimm Fairy Tale Writing Competition (win a trip to/ language course in Germany | New Zealand writers only)

Deadline: 1 July 2012

This year is the 200th anniversary of the Brothers Grimm’s book of fairy tales. These storytelling treasures have influenced many of the greatest modern writers, including our own Katherine Mansfield and Janet Frame.

We invite you to write a Grimm fairy tale for modern Aotearoa New Zealand. Your story can work with local or international folktale elements, but please avoid a simple retelling of well-known tales from the world’s great mythologies – such as those involving Maui or Zeus or Odin.

However, you should feel free to try updating and relocating one of the famous Grimm stories, such as Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Snow White, Thumbelina, Rumpelstiltskin, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella . . .

Or, if you like, one of the lesser-known stories – there are over 200 of them . . . Or, best of all, you can write something entirely original. We don’t insist on castles or elves or frogs that turn into princes, but we look forward to entries that have some of the magic and storytelling power that inhabits the tales handed down to us by the Brothers Grimm.

Your story must begin with the words “Once upon a time . . .”

Organised by the Goethe-Institut in association with the New Zealand Listener and the International Institute of Modern Letters, Victoria University of Wellington.

PRIZES

• There will be one winner and two runners-up.
• The winner can choose between a four- or eight-week German language course in Germany in 2013 in one of 11 cities, including Berlin, Munich or Frankfurt. The prize includes flights and accommodation. It cannot be transferred or given in cash, but there is an alternative prize of a new iPad if the winner cannot travel to Germany.
• The winner will also receive a 12-month subscription to the Listener, as will the two runners-up.
• The winning story will be published in the Listener and the runners-up on the Listener website.

THE JUDGE

The judge is author and children’s books commentator Kate De Goldi, whose books include The 10PM Question, Book of the Year at the 2009 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children & Young Adults.

WHO CAN ENTER

• You must be a New Zealander by birth or naturalisation, or have been in residence in New Zealand for three years continuously immediately prior to the competition’s closing date.
• No staff member of the Goethe-Institut, the New Zealand Listener or the International Institute of Modern Letters may enter.
• Entrants must be 18 and over.

GUIDELINES

• Your story should begin with the words “Once upon a time . . .”
• The story must be between 1000 and 1500 words.
• Stories that have been previously published (anywhere on the internet or in print) or broadcast are ineligible.
• No story may be entered, or already have been entered, into any other competition until after Thursday, September 13, 2012.
• Only one story per entrant. The last date to receive entries is Sunday, July 1, 2012. Late entries will not be accepted.

FORMAT

• You must use a pen name on your entry. Include a separat cover-sheet containing your name, phone number, postal address and email, your pen-name, and the story’s title.
• Entries must be typed, in English, and double spaced, with pages numbered.
• Entries should be sent as two email attachments (Story and Coversheet) in either Word or PDF to arts@wellington.goethe.org

OTHER

• Winners will be required to provide biographical information and photographs to the Goethe-Institut and the New Zealand Listener for promotional purposes.
• Winners will be invited to attend an awards ceremony in Wellington on Thursday, September 13 (travel costs within New Zealand and accommodation paid).
• No responsibility is taken for entries, but receipt of entries will be acknowledged by email.
• Manuscripts will not be returned.
• The winning entry will be published in the New Zealand Listener, and the two runners-up on the Listener website, on Friday, September 14.

Entrants retain copyright of their submitted works but grant APN Specialist Publications NZ Ltd and the Goethe-Institut a licence to publish their works in print and/or electronically.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries/ submissions: arts@wellington.goethe.org

Website: http://www.goethe.de/ins/nz/wel/

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Elle Essay Contest: The _____ that Changed my Life

Deadline: 25 June 2012

Calling all ELLE readers who are also writers: You could be published in ELLE’s October 2012 Personal Style issue! We’re looking for essays of 500–750 words in length about a treasured piece from your wardrobe. It’s about more than just a favorite item of clothing, because a cherished dress is never really just a dress: It’s a reflection of where you’ve been, what you’ve accomplished, how you see the world—a reminder of definitive moments in your life.

So here it is: your chance to write a humorous, poignant, heartbreaking, or shocking ode to the clothes that made you who you are today. To enter, simply e-mail your submissions to ElleEssays@hearst.com by June 25, 2012. (Please paste your text in the message window
rather than sending an attached document.)

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries/ submissions: ElleEssays@hearst.com

Website: http://www.elle.com/

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Grazing Grain Press Feminist Poetry Chapbook Contest 2012

Deadline: 1 August 2012

2012 Chapbook Contest from Fall for the Book and Gazing Grain Press is a new, inclusive feminist poetry chapbook contest edited by George Mason University MFA alumni and sponsored by the Fall for the Book literary festival. This contest is open to feminists of all genders and sexualities and is meant to promote socially-conscious poetry to a wide audience.

The winner will be selected in mid-August, and the book will be published in September. The winner will be honored with a reading and reception at the Fall for the Book literary festival in Fairfax, VA (9/26-9/30).

Manuscripts are read by the editors, who will select a set of finalists to send to the judge for winner selection.

READING PERIOD: June 15-August 1, 2012.

READING FEE: $20. Poets can submit more than one manuscript, but each will be considered a separate entry and must be accompanied by the $20 fee.

PRIZE: Publication, 10 contributor copies, and invitation to read at the 2012 Fall for the Book literary festival (accommodation and travel to Fairfax, VA will be paid within the continental United States). Runners-up and/or designated finalists will also be invited to receive recognition at the event.

JUDGE: Brian Teare

A former National Endowment for the Arts fellow, Brian Teare is the recipient of poetry fellowships from the MacDowell Colony, the American Antiquarian Society, and the Headlands Center for the Arts. He is the author of The Room Where I Was Born, Sight Map, the Lambda-award winning Pleasure, and Companion Grasses, forthcoming from Omnidawn in 2013. His chapbooks include Pilgrim, Transcendental Grammar Crown, and ] up arrow [, as well as the forthcoming volumes Paradise Was Typeset, Helplessness and Black Sun Crown. An Assistant Professor at Temple University, he lives in Philadelphia, where he makes books by hand for his micropress, Albion Books.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

1. This competition is open to all poets writing in English who have no affiliation with the judge, the editors, or the George Mason University MFA program.

2. Manuscripts must be between 15 and 25 pages, not including front and back matter, numbered accordingly, with only one poem per page. Every manuscript should include a title page and a table of contents, if applicable.

3. Please include ONLY in the “comments” section of the Submittable form a cover letter with contact information, bio, and, if you wish, a few sentences about what feminism means to you and your work. The author’s name should not appear anywhere in the manuscript itself.

4. The manuscript should not have been previously published in a complete form; however, previously published individual poems are acceptable. We also accept simultaneous submissions. Notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.

5. Submit via Submittable.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries: gazinggrainpress@gmail.com

For submissions: via submishmash

Website: http://gazinggrainpress.wordpress.com/

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Women's National Book Association's First Annual National Writing Contest

Deadline: 15 September 2012

We will be reviewing submissions for our 1st annual Writing Contest. The Women’s National Book Association is a 90+ year old venerated organization of women and men across the broad spectrum of writing and publishing. Our membership includes Editors, Publishers, Literary Agents, Professors, Academics, Librarians, Authors, Book Marketers and many others involved in the world of books.

After years of celebrating published authors, extraordinary book women (see our WNBA Award under “Awards”) and others in the field, we have decided it is time to celebrate emerging writers.

Please send us only your highest caliber work.

GUIDELINES:

Submission Period: May 1st – September 15th, 2012

Fiction 2,500 word limit – may be a short story, or a stand alone excerpt from a novel in progress.

Poetry: 35 line limit – or one page double spaced

Previously unpublished work only.

Your entry must be uploaded without your name, address, or contact information on the actual document. Your contact information will be collected on a separate form when you submit your entry.

You may submit more than one entry, however, each one must be separately submitted.

Acceptable formats are: Word Document 2007, Word Document 2003 or earlier version, RTF (Rich Text Format)

JUDGES:

Fiction: Valerie Martin. Valerie is an award-winning author (Kafka Prize, Orange Prize) with 9 novels, 3 short story collections, and one biography.

Poetry: Julie Kane, Poet Laureate, Louisiana, 2011-2013. Julie has authored six books, including three collections of poetry, one volume of non-fiction, and two edited anthologies.

ENTRY FEE:

Entry: 3 poems or 1 short story.

WNBA Members: $10 per entry

Non-Members: $15 per entry

Multiple submissions will be accepted.

PRIZE: $250 cash prize and publication in the Bookwoman, the newsletter of the Women’s National Book Association, with 10 chapters nationwide.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries: info@wnba-books.org

For submissions: via submishmash

Website: http://www.wnba-books.org

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Eshet Chayil Woman of Valor Poetry Contest

Deadline: 8 August 2012

A Woman of Valor is hard to find. Have you found her? Tell us how she’s changed your life, who she is, and what makes her life so special. It’s okay to bring a tear to our eye or make us laugh. What we need to see is an original poem that describes your woman of valor like no other.

JUDGE

Marcie Natan Zionism and love for Israel are in Marcie Natan's heart. And Hadassah is in her DNA. She has served the organization with her quiet strength, profound integrity, and generosity of spirit since her early twenties. Marcie has traveled to Israel more than 50 times, including visits during both intifadas and the 2006 Lebanon War. Her time in Israel has intensified her passion and honed the perspective she has brought to Hadassah's National Board and Executive Committee, and the Hadassah Foundation Board.

MAXIMUM LENGTH: No Maximum World Length

WINNERS ANNOUNCED: August 27, 2012

PRIZES

• $500 For the first place winner.
• Winning story will appear on the JewishStoryWriting.com Homepage and in the JewishStoryWriting.com Anthology.

FEES

• Contest Entry: $25.00
• Critique only: $35.00
• Contest Entry with Critique: $55.00

ELIGIBILITY

Stories must be previously unpublished and contain Jewish Content. By submitting a story the author grants JewishStoryWriting.com first publication rights for 18 months. However, after the contest that an author enters is finished and the winners announced, the author may request first publication or simultaneous publication rights from JewishStoryWriting.com. In all events, the author retains copyright at all times. Multiple submissions accepted.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For submissions: enter the competition here

Website: http://jewishstorywriting.com/

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Deadline June 15 | The 2012 Gatewood Prize for a Collection of Poems by a Woman

Deadline: 15 June 2012

The Gatewood Prize is Switchback Books' annual competition for a first or second full-length (48-80 pp.) collection of poems by a woman writing in the English language. It is named after Emma Gatewood, the first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail.

2012 JUDGE: BRENDA SHAUGHNESSY

Brenda Shaughnessy is a poet and editor. Her most recent book, Human Dark with Sugar (Copper Canyon, 2008), won the James Laughlin Award from the Academy of American Poets and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Her first book, Interior with Sudden Joy (FSG, 1999) was a finalist for the Lambda Award, Norma Farber Award, and the PEN/Joyce C. Osterweil Award. She is the poetry editor of Tin House Magazine, has been a Radcliffe Institute Fellow and a Japan-US Friendship Commission fellow. She teaches at Princeton, NYU, The New School and other institutions and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and son.

GENERAL TERMS:

• Poet must be a woman; our definition of "woman" is broad and includes transsexual, transgender, genderqueer, and female-identified individuals.
• Multiple submissions are acceptable, but each manuscript must be entered under separate cover and fee.
• You must let us know immediately if your manuscript is accepted by another publisher while under our consideration.
• No revisions to submitted manuscripts will be considered; the winning manuscript may be revised before publication.
• Translations ineligible.
• Manuscripts by close friends and former students of the judge are ineligible. If the judge would recognize your manuscript for any reason, please wait until next year to enter the contest.
• Co-written collections are eligible provided both poets meet all eligibility requirements.
• Submissions will be read by Switchback editors and staff members. We will select ten manuscripts to send on to the judge, who will choose the final winner.
• Manuscripts remain anonymous until a winner is selected. Please remove any identifying references from your manuscript (including those in the body of the manuscript).
• Only include cover letters in the appropriate box in the online form; do not upload a cover letter as the first page of your manuscript.
• Entries that do not meet these terms may be disqualified.

MANUSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS:

• Manuscripts should be between 48 and 80 pages, paginated.
• Please include a cover page with ONLY the title of the manuscript.
• Table of contents recommended.
• No acknowledgments page.

NOTIFICATION:

You will be notified of your submission status via email. Winners and finalists will be announced on our blog and website in early October.

ENTRY FEE:

• Option 1: $18 for reading fee only
• Option 2: $28 for reading fee and a book of your choice from our catalog (excluding limited edition FOUR). Please specify which book you would like to receive in the cover letter on the Submittable form; if you do not specify, we will send you a copy of the contest winning book. To ensure a timely delivery, be sure that your mailing address is up-to-date in the Submittable system.
• All payments will be accepted via Submittable. We do not accept cash, checks, or money orders.

DEADLINE:

Manuscripts will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. on June 15, 2012.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: email editors at switchbackbooks dot com with any questions

For submissions: visit their page at Submittable to submit your manuscript

Website: http://www.switchbackbooks.com/

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Deadline June 15 | Room Journal's Annual Fiction, Poetry, and Creative Non-Fiction Contest (worldwide)

Deadline: 15 June 2012

Our annual writing contest is back—with $2250 in prizes! Send us your best fiction, poetry, or creative non-fiction entries by June 15, 2012 for your chance to win!

Calling all women writers: sharpen your pencils or fire up your laptop and send us your fiction, poetry, or creative non-fiction contest entries.

Deadline: Entries must be postmarked or e-mailed no later than June 15, 2012.

Entry Fee: $30 per entry (includes a complimentary one-year subscription to Room). Non-Canadian entries: $42 Canadian dollars. Pay here.

Prizes: 1st prize in each category – $500, 2nd prize – $250. Winners will be published in a 2013 issue of Room. Other manuscripts may be published.

Judges:

• Fiction: Cathleen With
• Poetry: Miranda Pearson
• Creative Non-Fiction: Kathy Page

Rules & Details:

Poetry: max. 3 poems or 150 lines | Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction: max. 3,500 words

More than one entry will be accepted as long as fee is paid for each entry. No manuscripts will be returned. Only winners will be notified.

There will be blind judging, so please don't put your name or address on your entry submission. On a cover sheet (for mail entries) or in the body of your e-mail (for electronic entries), include your name, address and phone number, as well as the title(s), category and word count of your submission. Entries must be typed on 8.5 x 11 white paper, and prose must be double-spaced. Each entry must be original, unpublished, not submitted or accepted elsewhere for publication and not entered simultaneously in any other contest or competition.

Electronic Entries:

Simply e-mail your submission as an attachment to contests@roommagazine.com, pay online, and we'll take care of the rest. Remember to include your complete contact information in the body of your e-mail. And please make sure that the contact information you give through PayPal is the same as in your entry; use the "note to merchant" field, if necessary.

Mail Entries:

Send your entry, cover sheet and payment by cheque or money order made out to Room to:
Room Contest 2011
P.O. Box 46160, Station D
Vancouver, BC V6J 5G5
Canada

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: contests@roommagazine.com

For submissions: e-mail your submission as an attachment to contests@roommagazine.com

Website: http://www.roommagazine.com/

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Deadline June 13 | The Society of Women Writers NSW Poetry Competition 2012 (Australia)

Deadline: 13 June 2012

The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc. was established in 1925 and incorporated in 1987 and is the longest-standing literary society in Australia. The Society aims to enable women writers in all genres to meet and network, and to benefit from regular seminars and workshops. In addition to monthly workshops and luncheon meetings, the Society administers a number of Awards and Competitions. The 2012 Members’ Poetry and Short Story Competitions are now open.

First Prize $250.00 Second Prize $150 Third Prize $100

Terms and Conditions of Entry

1. Entries must be unpublished, in English, the original work of the entrant and must not have received an award in any competition, nor be concurrently entered in any other competition.

2. Maximum of 40 lines, typed on one side A4 paper.

3. Only Pen Name should appear on the manuscript.

4. An entry fee of $10.00 per poem is payable for each entry. Make cheques out to Society of Women Writers NSW Inc. and not SWW.

5. Entrants must be financial members of the Society of Women Writers NSW Inc.

6. Entries consisting of the poem manuscript, payment and entry form must be in the hands of Mrs. Heather Bird, 4a Royal Street, Chatswood, 2067 (Ph 9419 3070) by the closing date: Wednesday 13th June 2012. Postmark date is acceptable.

7. The Judge’s decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into.

8. No entries will be returned.

RESULTS ANNOUNCED: Wednesday, 12 September 2012 12.30pm at the Society’s luncheon meeting at the Dixson Room, Mitchell Wing, State Library of NSW. Results will be posted on our website.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries: enquiries@womenwritersnsw.org or call 9419 3070

For submissions: Mrs. Heather Bird, 4a Royal Street, Chatswood, 2067

Website: http://www.womenwritersnsw.org

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3Girls Theatre 10-Minute Play Contest (for Bay Area women playwrights)

Deadline: 31 August 2012

3Girls Theatre is thrilled to announce our 3GT Holiday Showcase: “3Girls Squared: 9 Short Plays For the Holidays That Put The Fun in DysFUNction!” Hey, its funny when it’s not your family, right?…This twist on holiday love and togetherness features 10 performances of 8 new short plays by both our resident and associate playwrights AND DRUM ROLL PLEASE - a ninths play (the “Square”) to be selected from submissions from Bay Area women playwrights.

3Girls Squared plays at the Phoenix Theatre (Mason and Geary) December 6-9 and 13-16, 2012. We’re excited to be in the heart of downtown San Francisco for all the holiday festivities!

CONTEST RULES

The contest opens June 15 and closes August 31st at Midnight PST. No scripts accepted after deadline. Send scripts to 3GT Literary Director Lee Brady (lee@3girlstheatre.org) with subject line “Holiday Showcase Submission”.

ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS

• Writer must be a woman currently residing in the SF Bay Area
• No more than 10 minutes (approximately 10 pages)
• Theme: Putting The Fun In Dysfunction Over The Holidays
• 2 Characters maximum
• Blind submissions (electronic) only: No name or contact info on script. Please include 2 cover pages, as follows: 1 cover page with title, name & contact info, 1 cover page with title, summary, tagline & character list

The winner will be announced on OCTOBER 15, 2012 and will receive a full production of her play as part of 3Girls Squared at the Phoenix Theatre – Downtown San Francisco in December 2012.

Submissions cannot be returned. 3GT disclaims all liability for submissions entered in the contest. Please make sure to keep copies of your work!

Download: script format

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries/ submissions: lee@3girlstheatre.org

Website: http://3girlstheatre.org

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No Entry Fee: The Kentucky Women Writers Playwriting Prize ($500 prize and production | worldwide)

Deadline: 1 November 2012

The Kentucky Women Writers Conference will award a national playwriting prize to bring more scripts by women to the stage, especially those featuring majority-female casts. The winner will receive a production by Balagula Theatre in Lexington, Kentucky (www.balagula.com), plus a cash prize of $500. The winning play will be workshopped prior to its world premier for a paying audience in winter 2014. ONE play per playwright will be considered.

ELIGIBLE PLAYWRIGHTS

The competition is open to all women playwrights. There are no restrictions on age, residence or experience. Playwrights previously unpublished are strongly encouraged to submit their work. Co-authored scripts are eligible if at least 50 percent of co-authors are female.

ELIGIBLE PLAYS

One-act or full-length scripts in English, with a running time between 45 and 90 minutes, that have not been published or commercially produced as of the entry deadline (November 1, 2012) and will not be published or produced before the release of the KWWC production (winter 2012). However, scripts that have been staged in a workshop production or script-in-hand staged readings are eligible.

DEADLINE AND TIMELINE

• Entries must be electronically submitted by November 1, 2012.
• Winner will be posted on our Web site by March 15, 2013.
• Winning script will be workshopped in October - December 2013
• Production will occur in winter 2014
• $500 cash prize to be paid on opening night of production

SUBJECT MATTER, CASTING, AND PRODUCTION LIMITATIONS

KWWC is seeking new plays that can be produced as world premieres. We place no limitations on subject matter. However, KWWC espouses a feminism that creates economic equality, a violence-free society, and racial and ethnic justice, and we encourage art that envices a consciousness about the cultural inheritance of women's identity. Scripts may be based on factual events, purely fictional, or adaptations. KWWC encourages women writers not trained as playwrights to adapt their own fiction, nonfiction, or poetry for the stage. KWWC is not seeking one-man or one-woman scripts, musicals, or children's plays. Limitations:

• Reading time must be in the range of 45-90 minutes.
• Casts must be in the range of 2-6 actors, preferably with a majority female cast
• Set, lighting, sound, costume, and prop requirements must be kept to a minimum. The producing theater has a modular stage (nine 8-foot by 4-foot platforms) with a stage height of 9 feet. Performance space is limited to 12-feet deep. The stage has no curtain and no off-stage wings. Adequate lighting and sound capabilities are available. Questions about performance space should be directed to the Balagula Theatre Company: theatre@balagula.com

JUDGING PROCESS AND CRITERIA

All entries will be screened by KWWC staff for completeness and adherence to contest guidelines. Judging will consist of two rounds. In round 1, a diverse panel of theater professionals and educators will choose 5 finalists. In round 2, Kia Corthron will choose 1 winner. Judging will be guided by the following criteria, in descending order of importance:

• Literary merit and theatrical potential
• Number of compelling roles for female actors (cast is limited to 6)

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries: kentuckywomenwriters@gmail.com

For submissions: via the playwriting prize entry form

Website: http://www.uky.edu/WWK/

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Maryland Women of Worship Magazine's Writing 4 Readers Contest

Deadline: 4 August 2012

The deadline for the “Writing 4 Readers” contest has been extended until August 4, 2012.

THEME: “God Remembers”

GENRE(S) ACCEPTED FOR THE JUNE EDITION: Devotionals

THEME HELPS: You could write a devotional about – memories God has about His children; memories the writer has about God; how He has blessed us/you/people; How He has blessed those in the Bible to guide us as an example—the ideas are endless.

TYPE OF ACCEPTED SUBMISSION(S) FOR THIS CONTEST: Devotionals – At least 250 words no more…than 300 words

(OTHER GENRE WRITING WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR THIS CONTEST. PLEASE DO NOT SEND—IT WILL NOT BE RETURNED.)

WINNINGS:

• Best Liked Devotional: (Chosen by Reader Subscribers) – $100.00
• Second Place: (Chosen by Reader Subscribers) – $50.00
• Third Place: (Chosen by Reader Subscribers) – $25.00
• (One winner per title will be awarded)

All winning devotionals will appear on the Maryland Women of Worship website and in the print edition. Also, with this new format the magazine will be accessible in digital format via, IPad, and computer (PDF).

All General Guidelines apply to this contest.

**You are required to follow Specific Guidelines for this contest too.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

All Writers

• Should use a different title for their devotions. In other words, name your devotional differently from the theme of the contest.
• Must include a Bible verse(s) for the reader to reference your writing
• Must adhere to word limit for devotionals; All guidelines and word limits will be strictly enforced
• Need to send a brief biography: Include accomplishments, website address of their work, titles of published works family info, don’t forget a profile picture. (Contact me directly if you think providing any of these items will be a problem in your literary field or with your current job.)
• Must submit your own writing; Writers must have clear title to their own work for reprints if it has been published in another forum or publication. Reprints from Maryland Women of Worship Devotional Guide will not be accepted. We’re looking for new material.
• Must submit their writing by the specified deadline
• Must sign and submit all Agreement forms (download from website, print complete, and fax, or email to enclosed email address)
• Must provide address or electronic information where winnings should be sent.
• If you reside in another country other than the United States you must provide preferred method of payment, rate of exchange (we pay at US rate of exchange), proper spelling and correct information for ease of transferring payment to you. (The payment must be made payable to you, the writer, and not a different name.)
• Must subscribe to the www.marylandwomenofworship.org website; this is where the contest submissions is housed.
• Agree to pay the reading, editing, and publication fee.
• A photo or graphic depicting your devotional may be submitted with the devotional. The writer must have “all rights” for publication. Proof of rights are required.
• Please submit all graphics and photos in jpg format.
• Should know that Maryland Women of Worship, Online and its’ owners will not be held liable for misrepresentation of written materials, graphics, photos, videos, or digital materials submitted to them for use online or in their print media

FEE STRUCTURE FOR ALL CONTESTS AND SUBMISSIONS

Unfortunately, we must charge a fee to help defray cost of the publication (website and print). We will always try to keep the fee nominal. Fees are made payable to Maryland Women of Worship through Paypal. A Writer is not entered into the contest until all fees are paid.

SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR THIS CONTEST – “GOD REMEMBERS”

• Follow all General Guidelines listed above
• Submit your final work to contest@marylandwomenofworship.com

SUBMISSION DEADLINE
All work must be submitted by Saturday, August 4, 2012 (new date)
Voting Deadline – All voting will begin on August 15, 2012 and end on September 15, 2012

Link: Agreement Form

Download: Example of a Published Devotional, Format of Devotional

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries: contact Wilhelmina Street, Founder and Editor, at founder@marylandwomenofworship.com

For submissions: via the submission form

Website: http://marylandwomenofworship.com

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The Carmel Bird Short Fiction Award 2012 for Women Writers (Australia only)

Deadline: 31 August 2012

Open only to women writers. 4,000 – 10,000 words. Winning and shortlisted entrants will be considered for inclusion in the SPINELESSWONDERS Long Shorts e-stories series.

Amanda Lohrey is the author of several novels, including the award-winning Camille’s Bread. Her first collection of stories, Reading Madame Bovary (Black Inc 2010) won both the Fiction and Australian Short Story Collection—Arts Queensland Steele Rudd Award in 2011. She discusses long stories and her collection, Reading Madame Bovary, here http://bit.ly/bJIqLQ

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

1. Entries must be from 4,000 – 10,000 words in length.

2. Entries must be printed on one side only, using 1.5 line spacing and 12 pt font size. The pages of stories must be numbered and must include the story title (but not author name).

3. Stories under consideration by another competition or publication or previously published or awarded, at a national level, will not be accepted.

4. Entries will be judged anonymously. The author’s name must not appear on the manuscript.

5. The judge’s decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into.

6. Entrants must be over 18 years of age.

7. Entrants must be either Australian citizens (living anywhere), or permanent residents of Australia.

8. Entry fee is $20.00. Multiple entries are acceptable. Payment can be made using Paypal via the Product page on our website, by cheque or money order made out to Spineless Wonders and mailed along with entries.

9. Each individual entry must be accompanied by a Covering Letter providing name, address, phone and email contact details, story title and word count.

10. Mail entries to:

Carmel Bird Long Story Competition
PO Box 220
STRAWBERRY HILLS
NSW 2012

11. Entries must be postmarked 31 August, 2012 or earlier. Late entries will not be accepted.

12. Shortlisted entries will be notified no later than February, 2013. Results will be announced via this website on International Women’s Day, Friday, 8 March, 2013.

13. The winning and shortlisted stories will be considered for publication in electronic form by SPINELESSWONDERS as part of its upcoming Long Shorts series. Proceeds of the e-story series sales will go directly to authors, excluding a minimal percentage to cover administration costs. Further details regarding issues such as copyright, distribution etc are included in the publisher-author contractual agreement.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For queries: bronwyn@shortaustralianstories.com.au

For submissions: Carmel Bird Long Story Competition, PO Box 220, STRAWBERRY HILLS, NSW 2012

Website: http://shortaustralianstories.com.au

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Deadline June 1 | National Women's Studies Association's First Book Manuscript Competition 2012

Deadline: 1 June 2012

The National Women's Studies Association and the University of Illinois Press are pleased to announce a competition for the best dissertation or first book manuscript by a single author in the field of women's and gender studies. Applicants must be National Women's Studies Association members.

Possible topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Activism
• Coloniality, postcoloniality and neo-imperialism
• Cultural production (media, film, music, literature)
• Feminist knowledge production
• Feminist pedagogy
• Feminist politics
• Feminist science and environmental studies
• Feminist theory
• Gender and disability
• Gender and globalization
• Gender and labor practices
• Gender and militarism
• Gender and queer sexuality
• Gender and violence
• Gendered experiences of people of color
• Girls studies
• Global and transnational feminisms
• Institutions and public policies
• Intersectionality
• Theories and practices of coalition
• Transgender studies
• Women of color feminisms

If a winner of the competition is selected, he or she will receive a publication contract with the University of Illinois Press. Runners up may also be considered for publication with the University of Illinois Press. Submitted dissertations must have been completed and defended after June 1, 2008. All submissions must be postmarked by June 1, 2012, and should include the following materials:

• Cover letter
• C.V.
• Proposal, including a 4-5 page overview of the scope of the project and analysis of competing titles
• Complete unbound manuscript, at least 150 double spaced pages, 12 pt. Times New Roman font

Please mention the competition in your cover letter, and also indicate if any material from the manuscript has been previously published. The winner will be announced at NWSA's annual conference.

All submissions must be exclusive submissions to the University of Illinois Press for the duration of the contest, and finalists will be notified by mid-August.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries/ submissions: direct all questions and submissions to Larin McLaughlin, Senior Acquisitions Editor, University of Illinois Press at larinmc@uillinois.edu

Website: http://www.nwsa.org/

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Deadline May 31 | Women on Writing's Winter 2012 Flash Fiction Contest

Deadline: 29 February 2012, 31 May 2012, 31 August 2012

WOW! hosts a (quarterly) writing contest every three months. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, communication, and well-rewarded recognition to contestants. The contest is open globally; age is of no matter; and entries must be in English. We are open to all styles of writing, although we do encourage you to take a close look at our guest judge for the season (upper right hand corner) if you are serious about winning. We love creativity, originality, and light-hearted reads. That's not to say that our guest judge will feel the same... so go wild! Express yourself, and most of all, let's have some fun!

WORD COUNT:

Maximum: 750

Minimum: 250

The title is not to be counted in your word count. We use MS Word's word count to determine the submitted entry's word count.

PROMPT:

OPEN PROMPT!

That’s right, this is your chance to shine, and get creative. You can write about anything, as long as it’s within the word count and fiction. So, dig out those stories you started way back when and tailor them to the word count.

We’re open to any style and genre. From horror to romance! So, get creative, and most of all, have fun.

CONTEST DEADLINES:

FALL: September - November 30th Midnight (Pacific Time) - CLOSED
WINTER: December - February 29th, Midnight (Pacific Time) - NOW OPEN!
SPRING: March - May 31st, Midnight (Pacific Time) - CLOSED
SUMMER: June - August 31st, Midnight (Pacific Time) - CLOSED

ENTRY FEE: $10.00

This is not a reading fee. Entry fees are used to award our 20 winners as well as administrative costs.

We are limiting the number of entries to a maximum of 300 stories. Please enter early to ensure inclusion. If we reach 300 entries, we will disable the PayPal buttons.

PRIZES: 20 WINNERS TOTAL!

FIRST PLACE:

• $350.00 cash prize.
• 1 Year Premium Membership to AutomatedEditing.com ($420 value)
• $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
• Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing
• Interview on the WOW! Women On Writing Blog

SECOND PLACE:

• $250.00 cash prize.
• 1 Year Standard Membership to AutomatedEditing.com ($240 value)
• $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
• Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing
• Interview on the WOW! Women On Writing Blog

THIRD PLACE:

• $150.00 cash prize
• 1 Year Standard Membership to AutomatedEditing.com ($240 value)
• $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
• Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing
• Interview on the WOW! Women On Writing Blog

Please read the contest terms & conditions in full before submitting your entry. Please make sure you read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) before sending us an email.

Download terms and conditions >>

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: contestinfo[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com

For submissions: click here

Website: http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com

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Entries Sought: Kota Poetry Prize (Lady Lazarus Press, USA)

Deadline: 31 August 2012

Lady Lazarus-Press honors the memory and artistic aspirations of a young woman taken from us far too soon. Kota lost her life at the young age of 14, drowning in the Calamus Reservoir (Nebraska) while heroically trying to save the life of another child. She loved life and everything creative from painting, photography to writing.

Beginning April 30th to August 31st, 2012 Lady Lazarus-Press will be accepting manuscript submissions for its 1st ANNUAL KOTA POETRY PRIZE. Manuscripts must be sent via e-mail attachment to: ladylazarus_press@yahoo.com [Subject: KOTA POETRY PRIZE and must contain the ORDER NUMBER assigned when the reading fee of $15.00 is processed through the PAYPAL link located in our Bookstore]. This is a juried contest.

The scope of this contest is a never-before published, cohesive poetry collection from a FIRST-TIME AUTHOR, whether formal, traditional, free verse, experimental or prose with a minimum page count of one-hundred (100 pages). All subject matter will be considered.

You must be 18+ and a Resident of the USA to enter. The DEADLINE is August 31st, 2012, (Submissions received after the deadline will be rejected).

PRIZE:

The selected manuscript will be published by Lady Lazarus-Press within six months of the close of the contest and the author will also receive a cash award of $500.00 (US) along with the beautifully detailed figurine [pictured right] which is a depiction of the Celtic Goddess “Danu”. Her power is said to be within the imagination of those who see magic in the twilight mist between the worlds.

JUDGES

Lady-Lazarus Press is pleased to announce the judging panel for the 2012 Kota Poetry Prize, Authors and Poets: Melissa Alvarado, Billy J. Burgos, Rachel Blackbirdsong, Mj Earnshaw and Debra Marlar, Editor-In-Chief.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries/submissions: ladylazarus_press@yahoo.com

Website: http://www.ladylazarus-press.com

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The Millwheel Writers Poetry Competition 2012 (to benefit the Roscommon Women's Network, Ireland)

Deadline: 31 August 2012

The recently named Millwheel Writers had its beginnings as a support group for lone parents, when in September 2008 it transformed into a writers group. Millwheel writers meet in the Roscommon Women’s Network in Castlerea, County Roscommon in the Republic Of Ireland. The Millwheel Writers Poetry competition has been set up to raise funds for the Roscommon Women's Network.

COMPETITION RULES

• Competition is open to all and there is no special theme...
• Poems must be in English.
• Poems must be original and unpublished in any form.
• Maximum number of lines is 40.
• Cost is 4 Euros per poem or 10 Euros for 3 poems.
• Deadline for entry is 31st August 2012 7.00 pm.
• No correspondence will be entered into.
• Judges decision is final.
• Only winners will be contacted personally.
• Entries to the Millwheel Writers Poetry competition may be compiled in an e-book within one year of the closing date if there are enough submissions of quality.
• Results will be published on website along with winning poems, and poets will be included in the e-book.
• No present Millwheel writers or member of RWN staff are permitted to enter competition.

ABOUT THE JUDGE

Gerry Boland writes poetry,short fiction and children's fiction. He has had poems published in The Stinging Fly, The Shop, Southword, The Stony Thursday Book, An Crannog and a number of overseas publications. He came third in the 2008 Francis MacManus Short Story Competition. He gives creative writing workshops to schools throughout Roscommon, Leitrim and Sligo, is the recipient of several literary bursaries from Roscommon County Council, and one from Dublin County Council.

His first collection of poems - Watching Clouds - was published by Doghouse Books in June 2011, the first book in a children's trilogy - A Rather Remarkable Grizzly Bear - was published in September 2011 by O'Brien Press, titled 'Marco Moves In'. It was shortlisted for an Irish Book Award in the Junior Children's category. The other two books in the trilogy are due out in 2012.

He has had two travel books on Dublin published, the most recent of which was Strollers Guide to Dublin (Gill & Macmillan - 1999)

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For submissions: enter online here

Website: http://www.millwheelwriters.com/

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Writer's Digest's Dear Lucky Agent Contest (Niche: Upmarket/ Women's/ Mainstream Fiction)

Deadline: 14 May 2012

(Note: the judge for the 10th edition is looking for mainstream and women’s fiction that is character-driven and/or has a strong social or emotional message and is delivered with a compelling and distinguishable prose style.)

Welcome to the 10th (free!) “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest on the GLA blog. This is a recurring online contest with agent judges and super-cool prizes. Here’s the deal: With every contest, the details are essentially the same, but the niche itself changes—meaning each contest is focused around a specific category or two. So if you’re writing a upmarket (see exactly what this term means below) novel, this 10th contest is for you! (The contest is live through May 14, 2012.)

WHY YOU SHOULD GET EXCITED

After a recent “Dear Lucky Agent” contest, the agent judge, Tamar Rydzinski (The Laura Dail Literary Agency), signed one of the three contest winners. After Tamar signed the writer, she went on to sell two of that writer’s books! How cool! That’s why these contests are not to missed if you have an eligible submission.

HOW TO SUBMIT

E-mail entries to newagentcontest@gmail.com. Please paste everything. No attachments.

WHAT TO SUBMIT

The first 150-200 words of your unpublished, book-length work of upmarket fiction. You must include a contact e-mail address with your entry and use your real name. Also, submit the title of the work and a logline (one-sentence description of the work) with your entry.

Please note: To be eligible to submit, I ask that you do one of two things: 1) Mention and link to this contest twice through any social media—blogs, Twitter, Facebook; or 2) just mention this contest once and also add Guide to Literary Agents Blog (www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog) to your blogroll. Please provide link(s) and notes with your entry so the judge and I can verify eligibility. Some previous entrants could not be considered because they skipped this step!

WHAT IS UPMARKET FICTION?

Throw out what you think the definition is. What THIS contest goes by is what the agent judge, Lauren Ruth, defines it as, as that is what she is seeking from prospective new clients. Here it is: “Lauren is looking for mainstream and women’s fiction that is character-driven and/or has a strong social or emotional message and is delivered with a compelling and distinguishable prose style. Examples of the types of women’s and mainstream fiction Lauren is looking for include MY SISTER’S KEEPER by Jodi Picoult, ROOM by Emma Donoghue, HOW TO TALK TO A WIDOWER by Jonathan Tropper and THE HOUR I FIRST BELIEVED by Wally Lamb.” (So there we have it.)

CONTEST DETAILS

• This contest will be live for approximately 14 days—from April 30, 2012 through the end of Monday, May 14, 2012, PST. Winners notified by e-mail within three weeks of end of contest. Winners announced on the blog thereafter.
• To enter, submit the first 150-200 words of your book. Shorter or longer entries will not be considered. Keep it within word count range please.
• This contest is solely for completed book-length works of upmarket fiction.
• You can submit as many times as you wish. You can submit even if you submitted to other contests in the past, but please note that past winners cannot win again.
• The contest is open to everyone of all ages, save those employees, officers and directors of GLA’s publisher, F+W Media.
• By e-mailing your entry, you are submitting an entry for consideration in this contest and thereby agreeing to the terms written here as well as any terms possibly added by me in the “Comments” section of this blog post. (If you have questions or concerns, write me personally at literaryagent@fwmedia.com. The Gmail account above is for submissions, not questions.)

PRIZES!!!

Top 3 winners all get: 1) A critique of the first 10 double-spaced pages of your work, by your agent judge. 2) A free one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com.

MEET YOUR (AWESOME) AGENT JUDGE!

Lauren Ruth started her publishing career as an intern at Simon & Schuster’s Touchstone/Fireside imprint while earning her B.A. in English language and literature from Pace University. Shortly thereafter, she completed her second internship at BookEnds, where she fell in love with the literary agency side of the publishing industry. In February 2011, she joined BookEnds as a full-time literary assistant, and very soon after began to build her own client list. She will soon have her master’s degree in book publishing. In fiction, Lauren is looking for: romance—all genres; literary fiction; commercial fiction, especially up-market, urban fantasy with romantic elements; middle-grade—all subgenres; young adult—all subgenres; mystery, with a strong focus on cozies; women’s fiction on the literary side; and smart chick lit, a la The Devil Wears Prada. On the nonfiction side, she’s looking for memoir, parenting and family, relationships, food and lifestyle, business, popular science, popular culture, and popular psychology.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries/ submissions: newagentcontest@gmail.com

Website: http://www.writersdigest.com

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The National Foundation for Women Legislators' 15th Bill of Rights Essay Scholarship Contest (USA)

Deadline: 31 July 2012

Each year, NFWL and the NRA join forces to provide seven female High School juniors or seniors an award, a $3,000 college scholarship and an all-expense-paid trip to NFWL’s 2012 Annual Conference. The Conference will take place November 15-19th at The Ritz-Carlton in Atlanta, Georgia. Applicants will be required to secure a sponsoring state legislator who will attend the entire conference with them, if they should win. Following, are detailed instructions concerning the contest, essay topic, and selection process.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Complete applications should include:

1. Completed Essay Contest Verification Form (with a copy sent in advance)
2. Two (2) copies of your essay
3. Two (2) personal reference letters
4. The name of applicant’s sponsoring female state legislator*

*All applicants must be sponsored by a woman state legislator for this contest. To find a woman legislator in your state, visit your state legislature’s website. The sponsoring legislator does not have to be from the applicant’s district, but she does have to be from the applicant’s state. Any applicants experiencing trouble locating a woman legislator in their state should contact the NFWL office for assistance well in advance of the contest deadline.

IMPORTANT: In advance of the July 31st deadline applicants must send in a completed Essay Contest Verification Form to NFWL by fax, mail or email (PDF document). This form should be sent in prior to the submission of your entire application so NFWL can communicate with the applicant and sponsoring legislator regarding any changes with the essay contest or Annual Conference arrangements before the deadline.

ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible for this year’s essay contest, applicants must be college-bound female high school juniors or seniors – Class of 2012 or Class of 2013. All applicants are required to secure a woman state legislator as a sponsor. The seven contest winners and their sponsoring legislators also must be able to attend the entire NFWL Annual Conference where students will be presented with the award. The Conference will take place November 15-19, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. All travel and lodging expenses for the Annual Conference will be covered by the National Foundation for Women Legislators for the both winning students and their sponsoring legislators.

DEADLINE: Your essay must arrive or be postmarked to the NFWL office no later than Tuesday, July 31st, 2012. Essays received after this date may not be considered for the contest.

2012 NFWL-NRA Bill of Rights National Essay Scholarship Topic: “The Constitution and States Rights: How Federalism Impacts Women and Historically Underrepresented Populations”

In the current Presidential election, candidates and political pundits have been particularly concerned with the role of states’ rights. Issues such as energy, education, and job creation have dominated the conversation, and many are questioning whether these issues should be addressed by individual states or the federal government.

The question of states’ rights versus the federal government has existed since the framers first sat down to draft our Constitution. Careful to establish checks and balances to avoid the emergence of a King, the framers emphasized the importance of protecting the rights of people to create legislation within their own states about issues that didn’t relate to the entire Union. The Tenth Amendment in the Bill of Rights, for example, established the principle of federalism — the term used to define the relationship between the states and the federal government.
Energy, education, job creation and other significant policy changes are at stake in the coming election. Each of these policy areas has a sizable impact on women and historically underrepresented populations.

GUIDELINES: This year’s essay topic is “The Constitution and States Rights: How Federalism Impacts Women and Historically Underrepresented Populations.” Write a 400-600 word essay on the role states should have in addressing a specific policy area being discussed today. The question to address is, what role do you believe the states should have in determining the future of a given policy area, based on your understanding of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution? How might women and minorities specifically be affected by decisions made at the state level versus decisions from the federal level?

For this essay, please choose one policy initiative from the following list, and determine how women and historically underrepresented populations would be specifically impacted should that issue be addressed at the state or federal level. (Note: topics must fall under one of the following policy areas in order to be considered.)

POLICY INITIATIVES:

• Economic Empowerment & Job Creation
• Energy & Environment
• Individual Security & Privacy
• Criminal Justice
• Education
• Nutrition & Wellness

For example, you might consider the impact education policy has on women and other historically underrepresented communities, and then decide whether you believe it should be addressed at the state or federal level based on your interpretation of states’ rights as enumerated within the Bill of Rights.

You may also consider the role special interest groups and non-governmental organizations play in shaping the debate on a specific policy area.

IMPORTANT: The Scholarship Committee will weigh four specific elements in submissions: In addition to the basics of spelling, grammar, punctuation, and writing style, the judges will be looking for essays with (1) historical research, insight and perspective, (2) demonstrated understanding of the American Constitution and Bill of Rights as a whole, (3) inspirational quality and (4) meaningful personal connection.

FORMAT: 400-600 words, single spaced, 12 point font, Times New Roman. Please remember to submit two (2) copies.

Download the essay contest form here.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: questions may be directed to the NFWL office at (202) 293-3040, ext. 1005, or events@womenlegislators.org

For submissions: send your completed essay application to National Foundation for Women Legislators, Inc., ATTN: NFWL-NRA Bill of Rights Essay Contest, 910 16th Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20006

Website: http://www.womenlegislators.org

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The Society of Women Writers NSW Short Story Competition 2012 (Australia)

Deadline: 11 July 2012

The Society of Women Writers NSW Inc. was established in 1925 and incorporated in 1987 and is the longest-standing literary society in Australia. The Society aims to enable women writers in all genres to meet and network, and to benefit from regular seminars and workshops. In addition to monthly workshops and luncheon meetings, the Society administers a number of Awards and Competitions. The 2012 Members’ Poetry and Short Story Competitions are now open.

First Prize $250.00 Second Prize $150 Third Prize $100

Entries close 11th July 2012

1. Entries must be unpublished, in English, the original work of the entrant, and must not have received an award in any competition, nor be concurrently entered in any other competition.

2. Maximum of 2,500 words, typed on one side of white A4 paper at 1.5 line spacing.

3. Only PEN NAME should appear on the manuscript.

4. An entry fee of $15 per story is payable for each entry. Make cheques out to the Society of Women Writers NSW Inc (as written); not SWW or the name of Receiving Officer.

5. Entrants must be financial members of the Society of Women Writers NSW Inc.

6. Entries consisting of entry form, manuscript and payment must be in the hands of the Receiving Officer, Barbara Westerway, 222 Pittwater Rd, Manly 2095 by the closing date: Wednesday, 11th July 2012. Postmark date is acceptable.

7. The judges’ decision will be final. No correspondence will be entered into.

8. No entries will be returned.

RESULTS ANNOUNCED: Wednesday, 10th October 2012 at the Society’s Luncheon Meeting at the Dixson Room, Mitchell Wing of the State Library of NSW. Results will be posted on our website:

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: enquiries@womenwritersnsw.org

For submissions: Barbara Westerway, 222 Pittwater Rd, Manly 2095

Website: http://www.womenwritersnsw.org

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