Free contest, OGS Family Story Writing Contest, top prize: $50 (Oklahoma)

Deadline: 30 April 2011

Do you have a great story about your family? Any stories of struggles, immigration, or “black sheep”? That story may be a winner. Why not share it in 2500 words or less.

The Oklahoma Genealogical Society’s (OGS) Family History Writing Contest provides the opportunity for researchers to share special family stories with fellow genealogists. The stories may be historically or ethnically important, humorous, or just plain interesting. Writing a family history story will preserve that precious memory and history for descendants.

There is no entry fee for the contest, and membership in OGS is not required although dues are a low $20 per calendar year for an individual or $25 for family memberships at the same address. Meetings are held the first Monday of each month at the Oklahoma History Center, with a speaker on some area of interest to genealogists. Members receive the OGS Quarterly and are invited to submit free queries as well as receiving a discount on workshops, seminars and other events.

Here are some helpful hints for both beginners and the experienced writer.

* Even very short stories must have a beginning, middle and an ending. Your family history story should, too.
* Focus on one event. Write your story from beginning to end without stopping to edit or re-write.
* Then when you have told the story, go back and clean up the grammar and cut unnecessary words if the story is too long.
* Start with the action – grab your reader by the throat and don’t let go. You need to catch your reader’s interest in the opening sentence.
* Give the reader a sense of place from the beginning of your story. Where and when is this event happening? What else was going on in the rest of the world that may have influenced your family’s actions?
* In your editing phase, spell out abbreviations, use complete sentences, watch your grammar and avoid hyphenation. Break the story into paragraphs to make it easier to read. You might ask someone who is good in English to proofread your story before submitting it.
* Sources are important. Collect any resources you can find to document the story facts such as family Bible, census record, land record, birth and death certificates, photographs, etc. Enter the sources as footnotes or endnotes and attach copies (not originals) of the documentation.
* Be sure the entry form is attached to your entry and includes: Title of manuscript, whether entering the adult or student category, estimated word count, author’s name and complete mailing address. You should also include your phone number and email address in case the contest chair needs to contact you about a problem with your entry. The entry form is removed before your manuscript is delivered to the judges. A downloadable entry form and rules can be found here.
* Entering the contest acknowledges you give permission for your story to be published, and that information and photos concerning the winners may be published in local media.

Eligibility:

All family historians and genealogists, except OGS Board members, are invited to submit their favorite story for the contest. There is no entry fee and membership in OGS is not required for this year. There should be some connection to Oklahoma, either through the author’s residence or the story itself. There will be two divisions: Adult and Student. Because the Story-Writing awards event for 2011 is scheduled in August, deadline for submission has been extended to April 30, 2011. Manuscripts with entry blanks attached may be handed in at the March or April registration desk at the regular OGS Program Meeting. Follow the rules carefully to be one of the lucky winners. Questions may be emailed to Story Writing Contest Chairperson.

Rules:

1. Complete the entry form including: story title, author’s name, mailing address, email address and phone, approximate word count, and whether entering the Adult or Student category. This form must be attached to your entry and will be used to identify and notify winners when manuscripts are returned from judging. Entering this contest grants author consent to publication with author’s name shown. The author always retains copyright.

2. Stories must be typed in a standard font (not italic or script), double-spaced on one side of standard lettersize 8.5" x 11" paper with one-inch margins all around, which prints about 250 words per page. Entries must be less than 2,500 words, plus attachments and endnotes. One copy of the manuscript should be saved digitally in Microsoft Word format either on a computer disk or e-mailed to the contest coordinator for publication by the organization.

3. First page of entry should start about a third way down the sheet with story title centered and no author name shown; on subsequent pages the story title and page number should appear in upper right corner (header) of each page, for convenience of the judges.

4. Sources should be cited as endnotes (not footnotes), and attach good quality copies (not originals) of the documentation, which is not included in word count. (Footnotes do not carry forward properly for publication in book format.)

5. Family group sheets and pedigree charts may be included if pertinent; attachments are not included in word count.

6. Stories must be original and unpublished at time of entry. Do not staple or place manuscript in binders or folders, as the entries must be re-mailed in bulk to judges. If possible, pick a short catchy title that tells what the story is about – think of a movie marquee. Begin with a one or two sentence summary of your entry, example: My story is about a big gun that became part of our family history.

7. If you will not be attending the awards ceremony, include a self addressed prepaid flat rate US Priority Mail envelope for return to you of your certificate and the judge’s comments and suggestions.

8. Include four (4) copies of your story and documentation (each copy goes to a different judge) when you submit the entry form at the OGS meeting registration desk, or by US mail postmarked by 30 Apr 2011 (sooner is better) to:

OGS Family History Writing Contest
P. O. Box 12986
Oklahoma City, OK 73157

Judging:

Winning stories will be selected by a panel of judges. Judging is based on content, research, documentation, and quality of story. Decision of judges is final.

Awards:

First place - $50
Second place - $30
Third place - $20
Honorable mention - Ribbon

More information here.