Writing contests provide a way for writers to be noticed by agents and other authors. Writing for competitions also helps to develop the skill of writing to a deadline and on a specific theme or topic.
Summer is traditionally a quiet time in the publishing industry. These five contests all close in June and offer the chance for publication and writing clips. Three of them are well known and offer large cash prizes. Two more offer publication and smaller prizes. The opportunity is there to make excellent money on stories that are ready to send off to publishers, or that haven’t caught an editor’s eye yet.
Katherine Paterson Young Adult and Children’s Writer Award
Katherine Paterson, the author of Bridge to Terabithia and other novels, is the namesake of this writing contest sponsored by the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Submissions to the contest are $20, payable through PayPal or by check. The winner receives $1,000 and consideration for publication.
Entries should be stories or novel excerpts up to 10,000 words. The judge this year is Kimberly Willis Holt, an award-winning author of novels for young adults. Past winning entries may be read at the website as well as the complete guidelines for the contest.
The Vermont College of Fine Arts sponsors several contests each year in various genres. The website also hosts writer resources and informative essays and articles.
L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest
This well respected and well established contest is designed to find new, talented writers of science fiction, fantasy, and dark fantasy. An author is eligible to enter if he or she has not had a novel published or had more than one novelette or three short stories published. This includes electronic and written publication.
There are four annual contests. The current contest closes June 30, 2011. The prizes range from $500 to $1000. In addition, a grand prize is given each year for the best overall entry. The grand prize is $5000.
Submissions may be made online or by mail. Writers of the Future has specific guidelines regarding formatting and author information.
2011 Autumn House Fiction and Poetry Contests
Autumn House Press runs an annual poetry contest and fiction writing contest. Winners receive publication and a $1,000 advance against royalties, as well as $1,500 for travel expenses to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to promote the book.
Michael Simms founded Autumn House Press in 1998 in response to major publishers severely limiting their quotas for poetry and literary fiction. He takes pride in the quality of Autumn House publications.
The deadline for entries is June 30, 2011. An entry fee of $25 may be paid by PayPal if submitting online or by check if mailing the manuscript.
2011 A Midsummer Night’s Tale
Toasted Cheese Literary Journal sponsors an annual summer writing contest called A Midsummer Night’s Tale. They accept fiction and creative non-fiction from 1,000 words to 5,000 words. They accept non-genre works, which means the editors aren’t interested in romance, science fiction, mystery, or formulaic stories.
This summer’s competition encompasses the four elements of water, air, earth, and fire. The editors prefer the story setting to be during the warmer months of the year, to reflect the theme. The deadline for all entries is June 21, 2011. Winners will be published in the journal, and other prizes vary based on the number of entrants.
Toasted Cheese is also a writing community with resources for writers, including critique forums, chats, articles, and writing exercises for inspiration and practice.
The Absent Willow Review 2011 Annual Short Story Contest
For writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, The Absent Willow Review is now accepting submissions of 1,500 to 8,000 words. Prizes are $150 for first place, $75 for second place, and $25 for third place. All winners may be published on the website. An entry fee of $10 may be paid through PayPal or by check. The deadline for the contest is June 30, 2011. They also accept general submissions for publication in the magazine year round.
In addition, the website features interviews with well-known authors such as Whitley Streiber, Michael Moorcock, and Raymond Feist. The mission of the magazine, according to the website, is to find and promote new writers of “character driven, high caliber fiction.” Guidelines are at the website.
Suzanne Pitner - Suzanne Pitner is a teacher and published writer. A member of RWA and YARWA, she writes fiction as Suzanne Lilly.
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