Home

TAMPA WRITERS ALLIANCE

2008 Writing Contest Rules, Judging Criteria, Manuscript Formats,
Entry Form, and TWA Membership Application

Any submissions not following these rules will be disqualified.

ENTRY CATEGORIES, “UNPUBLISHED” REQUIREMENT

Each contestant may enter any or all of the following categories:

FICTION
NON-FICTION
NOVEL
EMERGING WRITERS FICTION/NON-FICTION (TWA Members Only)
PLAY/SCRIPT WRITING
DR. ED HIRSHBERG AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FLORIDA WRITING
SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY
POETRY (Up to 72 lines may be entered per submission. See Rules ).
WORDSMITH COVER PHOTO

Entries must be UNPUBLISHED at the time of submission. Unpublished is defined as not having been commercially printed and circulated to more than fifty (50) persons. Editing a work you won with last year does not make it eligible to be re-entered again this year.

Please do not enter stories that you have ever entered in a TWA contest and won awards with. Please do not enter stories that have been published in Wordsmith or anywhere else for that matter. Follow the unpublished rule, use common sense and if there is a question, ask.

CONTESTANT ELIGIBILITY

The contest is open to adults (18 years and older). Membership in the Tampa Writers Alliance is not required to enter. Membership dues are $35 per year. (See Membership Application with Entry Form.)

DEADLINES

Entries will be accepted on and after June 1, 2008. All mailed entries must be postmarked by October 1, 2008. All other entries must be received by the Contest Coordinator no later than Wednesday, October 1, 2008. NO LATE SUBMISSIONS will be accepted.

ENTRY FEES:

Make checks payable to TAMPA WRITERS ALLIANCE. Contest fees for TWA members in good standing (dues paid as of the contest deadline) are $5 for each submission. Contest fees for non-members are $10 for each submission. There is no limit on the number of submissions a person may submit to any category.

Judges evaluations are available for purchase @ $15.00 per entry. See Judging Criteria.

ENTRY FORMATS (PAPER AND DISK)

All entries must be typewritten on white paper, double-spaced (poems need not be double-spaced), with one-inch margins on all sides. A standard 12-point Courier, Arial, or Times New Roman font must be used. Prose entries must be stapled. Page number and title must appear on each page in the upper right hand corner. The author’s name MUST NOT APPEAR on the manuscript. See samples.

For each entry, two (2) paper copies of the entry and one (1) completed Entry Form must be submitted. No paper copies will be returned. Each poem requires a completed Entry Form with title and line-count information. Contestants wishing confirmation of entries must include a separate self-addressed stamped envelope containing a filled out Confirmation of Entry form. This only confirms that your entry has been received.

In addition to the paper copies specified, contestants must also submit electronic format by CD or 3.5” floppy disk. Files must be accessible using Microsoft Word or WordPerfect. The file must be saved in rich text format (rtf). Disks must be labeled with the contestant’s name, entry title(s), and category(ies). Disks will not be returned.

MAXIMUM LENGTHS

FICTION, NON-FICTION, SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY, CHILDREN'S STORY and the DR. ED HIRSHBERG entries MAY NOT exceed 2,500 words. Entries longer than 2,500 words OR not containing the exact word count (not including title) will be disqualified. Entries with approximate word count will be disqualified.
NOVEL chapter entries may consist of one or more chapters with a combined exact word count that MAY NOT exceed 5,000 words and must be accompanied by a 2-page, double-spaced synopsis (not part of the word count). Entries not meeting these criteria will be disqualified.
PLAY/SCRIPT WRITING (film, radio, stage, & TV) entries MAY NOT exceed 10 pages and must be a complete play in a standard script format. Entries not meeting these criteria will be disqualified. NOTE: Each element of dialogue and stage directions may be single spaced with double spaces between elements.
POETRY may not exceed 72 LINES per submission (excluding title) Be aware that some printers may change format and cause you to end up with an extra line. Count them after printing. Submissions totaling more than 72 lines will be disqualified.

HIRSHBERG AWARD REQUIREMENT

The DR. ED HIRSHBERG AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN FLORIDA WRITING is given for a story (fiction or non-fiction) or essay written about Florida’s people, places or history. The piece is not to be a travel article.

WORDSMITH PHOTO REQUIREMENT

Photos must be submitted in standard digital format (jpg preferred) on CD disk in either color or black and white. Prints of photos are not required or desired.
Resolution of the photo must be no less than 300 dpi. This may require the photo to be 5 mega-pixels or greater in size to achieve. Should your photo not print in 300 dpi it will be disqualified.
Judging of photo submissions will be as displayed on computer, not printed copies.

EMERGING WRITERS FICTION/NON-FICTION REQUIREMENT

The EMERGING WRITERS FICTION/NON-FICTION category is intended to offer an additional competitive opportunity to TWA members who have never won prize money in a TWA writing contest. We welcome submission to this category with strict adherence to this qualification. Every entrant will be reviewed by the Contest Coordinator to determine qualification. Questionable entrants will be disqualified. Only FICTION/NON-FICTION short stories please. (Non-members may not submit to this category.)

PRIZES, ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET, NOTIFICATION OF AWARDS

Except as noted, prizes for all categories are: First Place $100, Second Place $75, Third Place $50 and Honorable Mention $25.00.

The WORDSMITH COVER PHOTO category will offer a single cash prize of $50 to the winning submission (no second place, third place or honorable mention prize money).

Judges may, at their option, award up to 10% of entries an Honorable Mention if they deem them worthy. Winners will be announced at the TWA Annual Awards Banquet to be held at the Golden Corral, 11801 N 56^th Street, Tampa, Florida, January 15^th 2009. (Dinner @ 7:00 P. M.)

§ TWA members who enter the writing contest are eligible to attend the awards banquet free of charge. (Includes meal, non-alcoholic beverage, tax and gratuity.)

§ All other members or non-member guests may attend the banquet @ $20.00 per person.

§ Reservations are not required but are helpful for our planning.

§ Contest winners are not notified prior to the Banquet.

§ Winning entries will not be read at the banquet.

§ Wordsmith 2009 will be distributed at the banquet.

§ Winners will be published on the TWA website (www.tampawriters.org) in February 2009.

PUBLICATION IN WORDSMITH 2009, OBTAINING COPIES OF WORDSMITH 2009, AUTHOR RIGHTS

Winning entries will be published in WORDSMITH 2009, the Tampa Writers Alliance 19th Annual Anthology of Writing, to be distributed in January 2009.
Other entries may be published in WORDSMITH 2009 at the discretion of the WORDSMITH editor. Emphasis will be on excellence of writing.
All rights revert to the author following publication in WORDSMITH 2009.
All TWA members are entitled to one (1) free copy of the WORDSMITH 2009 provided they (a) attend the Awards Banquet and pick it up there or (b) reserve a copy prior to the Awards Banquet by paying in advance $4.00 per copy for shipping.
Non-members may purchase WORDSMITH 2009 for $12.00 per copy provided they (a) attend the Awards Banquet and pick it up there or (b) arrange for shipping by paying in advance an additional $4.00 per copy.
Additional copies are available for $12.00 plus shipping (if applicable).
After the Banquet, all unreserved unsold copies of Wordsmith go on sale.
Entrants unable to attend the Banquet may reserve copies anytime between June 1^st and January 15^th by paying $4.00 shipping for the first copy and $16.00 per copy (includes shipping) for additional copies. Note: If you send TWA the shipping and later make reservations to attend the Banquet, you’ll be refunded the shipping costs if you pick up your copy(ies) at the Banquet.
All undelivered prepaid reserved copies of Wordsmith 2009 will be shipped after January 15^th 2009.

JUDGING CRITERIA

The TWA Contest Coordinator will recruit qualified judges. Their identity will be kept secret until the awards banquet. Judges will be asked to consider fundamental criteria in evaluating submissions.

A manuscript evaluation may be purchased for any category, except POETRY and PLAY/SCRIPT, provided this option is elected prior to judging and the contestant includes payment of $15.00 for each entry. You will not receive this completed judge’s evaluation sheet if you fail to designate this option for a specific entry at submission and enclose a $15.00 payment per evaluation. Purchased evaluations will be mailed late January 2009.

Some aspects of writing excellence are positive, meaning they are desired qualities found in every winning manuscript. Others are negative; they are not desired. Entrants are encouraged to incorporate the positive aspects into their work and exclude negative aspects as much as possible. If you are uncertain of what these criteria are, we advise you to download from TWA’s website the document titled “Writing Tips for Manuscripts.” We suggest you apply them to your manuscript, when and where appropriate.

PROPER ENTRY FORMATS

(Top of page) TITLE / PAGE #

Exact word count

(For Poetry entries, Line count)

TITLE OF THE PIECE

Do not start the story halfway down the page and do not include the author’s name, address, and phone number. Remember, author identification is the purpose of the entry form. Place the title and individual page number on every page in the header in the upper right-hand corner of the page. (The header option is under the “VIEW” tab in Microsoft Word.) Put the word or line count just below the title on the first page only.

All submissions should be in 12pt Arial, Courier, or Times New Roman (the bolded examples are 12 point). Format your paragraphs for a 0.5 inch first line indent. Do not skip lines between or format spacing before or after paragraphs.

The body text must be 1” from all four sides of the paper. The slug may be ½ inch from the top of the page. The right margin is what is known as “ragged right” and should not be justified. No flag, such as “more” or “continued,” is needed at the bottom of the page to indicate that the article/story continues. The second page should look like the first page, except the body copy should start at the line where the title was on page one. When the article/story is finished, “The End” does not need to be used.

Edit the article/story to be sure no typos, gaps in logic, or other errors are in the manuscript. Staple the pages of your entry rather than paperclip them. Paperclip the entry form to your stapled entry. Follow all the rules laid out on the previous page to guarantee your entry is not disqualified.

TITLE / PAGE #

PLAY FORMAT &/or FILM FORMAT

CAPS ARE USED FOR STAGE DIRECTIONS (SINGLE SPACED) TO SET THE STAGE (AS IT WERE) FOR THE READER. CHARACTER NAMES ARE THEN SET ON THE LEFT MARGIN WITH THE DIALOGUE TO THE RIGHT. Example of centering stage directions follows.

LARRY THIS CHARACTER SAYS ALL HE HAS TO SAY IN THE MANNER AND FORM THAT HE USUALLY SAYS THINGS, THEN PERFORMS SOME BIT OF BUSINESS ILLUMINATING HIS PERSONALITY. “I’m always ready. You know?”

LOTTIE THIS CHARACTER TAKES UP THE DIALOGUE AT THIS POINT AND CARRIES THE STORY LINE A BIT FURTHER ALONG. (TEARING OFF HER CLOTHES) “What are we waiting for?”

FOR OTHER STANDARD FORMATS, SEEK OUT A BOOK ON THE SUBJECT.

TWA 2008 Writing Contest

ENTRY FORM

NAME__________________________________________________________________________________

PHONE _________________________________________________________

E-MAIL: ___________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS______________________________________________________________________________

CITY ________________________________________________ STATE ________ ZIP ___________

CATEGORY:

m FICTION m SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY m NONFICTION m NOVEL m POETRY m PLAY/SCRIPT m HIRSHBERG m EMERGING WRITER m WORDSMITH PHOTO

TITLE_________________________________________________________________________________

WORD or LINE or PAGE COUNT ___________________ (list the one appropriate choice)

Each submission must have its own Entry Form

Send entries to: TWA 2007 CONTEST COORDINATOR

James A. Young

2826 Keysville Road E.

Lithia, FL 33547

E-Mail Contact: jayoung@mindspring.com

( ) Current member or Membership Application Enclosed w/ $35.00

( ) This is a TWA member submission. $5.00 per submission

( ) This is a non-member submission. $10.00 per submission

( ) I would like evaluation of my submission. $15.00

( ) As a TWA member entering the contest, I plan to attend the Banquet free.

( ) As a non-member, I plan to attend the Banquet for $20.00.

( ) I plan to bring _______ other paying guests @$20.00 per/person.

( ) As a non-member entering the contest, I wish to purchase Wordsmith @ $12.00.

( ) I won’t attend the Banquet but want Wordsmith shipped. $4.00 shipping (required)

( ) Reserve _____ Extra Wordsmiths, $12.00 ea (plus shipping if not attending.)

Important note: One free copy of Wordsmith is automatically reserved for TWA members making reservations to attend the Awards Banquet ($4.00 shipping not required and extra copies only $12.00). Non-members may purchase Wordsmith. All not attending must pay $4.00 shipping on all reserved copies of Wordsmith.

Attach this form by paper-clipping it to your STAPLED submission. Thank you.

TAMPA WRITERS ALLIANCE

Membership Application

NAME_______________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS___________________________________________________________________

CITY ________________________________________ STATE _____ ZIP _____________

HOME PHONE ( ) _____ - _________ WORK PHONE ( ) _____ - ____________

CELL PHONE ( ) _____ - __________ FAX PHONE ( ) _____ - ___________

E-MAIL: ____________________________________________________________________

( ) $35.00 Check enclosed payable to Tampa Writer’s Alliance

Confirmation of Entry Form

The following Entries have been received from ________________________ to be entered in the TWA 2008 Writing Contest. (Writer- print your name)

MUST be filled out by the writer……………………………….........

Title of Entry In which category? Receipt confirmed

By contest coordinator

____________________________________ _________________ _______________

For confirmation of entry, this form needs to be filled out by you and sent with your entry package. You must also include a separate self-addressed stamped envelope. Contest coordinator will check off the entries received and mail the form back to you. Only do this if you want confirmation that your entry has been received.

_______________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Send to: __________________________________________________ in the enclosed SASE

Optional Purchase of Judges Evaluation

I wish to purchase the Judge’s Evaluation of the following entries entered in the TWA 2008 Writing Contest. I certify I understand and agree to the following rules and/or conditions:

§ I authored the manuscripts/works listed on this form and request delivery of the judge’s evaluation of my work. (Not available in POETRY and/or PLAY/SCRIPT WRITING.)

§ I have reviewed a blank evaluation form and am familiar with its format and potential content.

§ TWA’s officers, members, representatives or judges may not be contacted personally with questions, complaints or comments about an evaluation.

§ I authorize TWA’s Contest Coordinator to review my purchased evaluation(s) prior to delivery ONLY for the purpose of ensuring that I am being provided a complete evaluation of my work.

§ TWA’s Contest Coordinator will not disclose or discuss the content of any evaluation.

§ Evaluations will not be available or mailed to entrants until late January 2009.

§ Evaluations are confidential and may only be purchased by and delivered to the author of the work.

§ Tampa Writer’s Alliance, its members, officers, representatives and/or contest judges MAY NOT be held liable for the content of evaluations.

§ This purchase must be made prior to October 1, 2008 and is non-refundable. No exceptions.

§ $15.00 must be included with this form for each entry listed below.

________________________ (Writer- print your name)

________________________ (Signature required and obligates purchaser to acceptance of TWA’s conditions.)

MUST be filled out by the writer……………………………….........

Title of Entry In which category?

______________________________________________________ _______________

Number of entries ________ X $15.00 equal $_____________ ( ) Check enclosed

This form needs to be filled out by you and delivered with your payment to the contest coordinator with your entry. The name and address you provided on your entry will be used to mail the evaluation(s) to you.

Judge’s Evaluation of Manuscript Entry

CATEGORY:

m FICTION m SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY m NONFICTION m NOVEL m HIRSHBERG m EMERGING WRITERS

TITLE_________________________________________________________________________________

§ Does the first sentence and paragraph hook the reader?