Your definition of diligence, however, might involve a personal relationship, a child, a career, a manuscript. Maybe you weathered a difficult phase in your life, and now that you've come out on the other side relieved yet wiser, stronger and empowered.
In this day of instant publishing versus traditional, of impatient waits for answers to query letters, the theme of Diligence seemed most appropriate. No, you don't have to write about self-publishing versus traditional. Just make Diligence the clear, ultimate, and striking point of your nonfiction essay.
The Prize Money
NO ENTRY FEE CATEGORY - First place - $50. Second place - $25. Third place - $15.
Last year's 351 entrants made this contest a resounding success. It's when I read those essays that I realize why I do this contest. People pour their hearts into these pieces, these stories. Some raise a tear. Some send a shiver. Some make me wonder why some individuals aren't well-published and known across the Web. I see the souls of people striving to spin words into stories, turn thoughts into communication. I see them teaching school, selling insurance, fixing computers, fighting crime, taking care of elderly parents, carpooling kids, and going through life like everyone else. But in their bedrooms, studies and kitchens, they dig down into themselves to enter contests like this. They want to write.
Contests offer a barometer. Everyday people and seasoned scholars can enter the same competitions, both trying to step up another rung on that ladder. Even honorable mention is hope. It's a nod that what you fight to pen words at night, on weekends, at dawn before the family is up, your effort is deemed worthy.
What to Put In/On your Email Submission:
- The title of the essay (do NOT use the theme as your title)
- Your name.
- Your email address.
- Note Entry Fee or No Entry Fee category.
- The word count.
- The essay itself in the body.
Guidelines:
- Not to exceed 750 words.
- Essay/nonfiction only. Includes memoir, creative nonfiction, journalistic nonfiction...nonfiction period. NO fiction, poetry or children's writing.
- Receipt deadline Midnight (Eastern Time), October 31, 2011.
- Email entry to hope@fundsforwriters.com. (No fax or hard copy submissions.)
- No attachments to emails. Embed in the email itself. (Viruses are nasty creatures.)
- Note NO ENTRY FEE on your submission.
- No changes/alterations to an already submitted piece. The second edit will be deleted.
- Must be original and unpublished.
- Must be in English but entries accepted internationally. Entry fees must be in US dollars.
- No limit to the number of submissions.
- All writers must be 18 or older.
- Do not bother with SASE for winners lists. Winners posted on website and in newsletters.
- Single or double-spaced accepted.
- Winners and public notified by December 1, 2011.
- Winners published in December 2, 2011 FundsforWriters newsletters.
- Winners paid via check or PayPal. If you are from a country where that is a problem, please do not enter.
- Judges are selected from Hope's peer group of writers, authors and journalists, still pending, but the finalists are chosen by C. Hope Clark.
- Final determination of winners is not negotiable.
- You do NOT have to be a FundsforWriters reader to enter the contest.
- You will not be added to any sort of mailing list.
Contact Information:
For inquiries: hope@fundsforwriters.com
For submissions: hope@fundsforwriters.com
Website: http://www.fundsforwriters.com/
