2010 MWA Short Works Contest

Maryland Writers' Association
PO Box 41671
Baltimore, MD 21203

Announcing the MWA 2010 Short Works Contest

Contest Overview:

Each entry for the Short Works Contest must be original, unpublished, and in the English language. Membership in the MWA is not a requirement for participation or winning in the contest. Failure to follow the published guidelines and rules will disqualify the entry. Contest deadline is February 22 (postmarked), 2010.

Entries will be accepted in the following categories:

Poetry
Short Fiction
Creative Nonfiction

Prizes:

1st Place - $150 and a certificate to be awarded at the April 24, 2010 Awards Dinner + complimentary Awards Dinner reservations for winner and one guest + complimentary Annual Conference attendance
2nd Place - $100 and a certificate to be awarded at the April 24, 2010 Awards Dinner + complimentary Awards Dinner reservations for winner and one guest
3rd Place - $75 and a certificate to be awarded at the April 24, 2010 Awards Dinner + complimentary Awards Dinner reservations for winner and one guest

Rules:

Submit fiction or creative nonfiction up to 3,000 words maximum, poetry up to 50 lines maximum.
Each entry for the Short Works Contest must be original, unpublished, and written in English.
One short story or creative nonfiction essay may be submitted per entry fee.
Up to five poems may be submitted per entry fee, but no more than five pages total.
All submissions must be typed, double-spaced in a standard12 pt font (Courier, Times New Roman). Title must appear in the header of each manuscript page. Pages must be numbered.
Include a cover page for each submission including category, title, author's name, address, phone number, email, and a brief author's bio.
Multiple submissions may be mailed in one package. Include an entry fee and complete cover page for each submission.

The author's name must not appear anywhere on the manuscript.

Winners will be announced at the MWA Awards Dinner on April 24, 2010. Featured speaker will be award-winning author Charles Jensen of The Writer's Center in Bethesda. To receive a list of winners, enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope with submission package. No manuscripts will be returned. The decisions of the judges are final. Winners will be posted on the MWA website.

No substitution can be made for any prize. Any category receiving fewer than seven entries will not be judged; no prizes will be awarded in those categories and entry fees will be refunded. Should no entry in a category be suitable for publication, no prize will be awarded in that category and the entry fees will be refunded.

Failure to follow the published rules will disqualify the entry.

Entry Fee:

$10 (MWA members)
$15 (non-members)

Make check payable to Maryland Writers' Association and mail entries to:

MWA Short Works Contest
PO Box 41671
Baltimore, MD 21203

Deadline:

Entries must be postmarked by February 22, 2010. For questions or more information, contact the contest coordinator, Sherry Audette Morrow, saudettemorrow@hotmail.com.