Free contest, Esquire/ Aspen Writers' Foundation Short Fiction Contest, top prize: $8,000 (value) - USA/ CAN/ Puerto Rico

Deadline: 7 October 2011



Win a trip to New York to study with Colum McCann, and a scholarship to the Aspen Summer Words Fiction Workshop. If you can beat Colum McCann (in 78 words).



An Introduction (in 78 words)



The greatest short short of all time is, of course, Hemingway's: "For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn."



There is a whole life and death written there. The art of the short short is to compress yet not lose narrative power.



It is closer to poetry than it is to fiction. Everything matters. Just a simple paragraph break can have enormous narrative consequences. This is not a Twitter game. This is the search for a white star of language.



The Rules (in 78 words)



Entries must be 78 words, in honor of Esquire's 78th birthday. We're calling these short shorts Aspens.



Ten winners will be flown to New York for a fiction workshop, taught by Colum McCann, and literary party. Grand Prize winner receives a full scholarship for the advanced fiction workshop at Aspen Summer Words (June 17 to 22, 2012). All entries due by October 7, 2011. Must be submitted electronically at esquiresubmissions.com. What are we looking for, exactly? Beat this...



How to Enter:



Beginning September 1, 2011 at 12:01 AM (ET) through October 7, 2011 at 11:59 PM (ET) go to esquiresubmissions.com and complete and submit the entry form pursuant to the onscreen instructions along with your original fictional short story of exactly 78 words. Selection of Winner and Finalists: Ten finalists will be selected and from those finalists, one winner from all qualified entries as judged by a panel of professional writers including novelists, poets, and journalists and editors from Esquire magazine based on the following criteria:_plot (25%); characterization (25%); theme (25%); and originality (25%). In the event of a tie, the person among the tied entrants with the highest score in originality will be a finalist or winner, as the case may be. By participating in the Contest, entrant certifies that his/her entry is original, has not been previously published or won any award, and does not contain any material that would violate or infringe upon the rights of any third party, including copyrights, trademarks or rights or privacy or publicity. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole and unfettered discretion to disqualify any entry that it believes contains obscene, offensive or inappropriate content, that does not comply with these official rules or that is not consistent with the spirit or theme of the contest. The decision of the Sponsor and judges is final and binding on all matters relating to the Contest. Entrants must be available to attend and participate in the workshop in New York City on dates and at locations to be scheduled by Sponsor and Aspen Writer's Foundation if selected as a finalist and to attend and participate the 2012 Aspen Summer Words if selected as the winner. Once chosen, finalists must confirm their attendance with details of travel arrangements on or before October 17, 2011, otherwise another finalist will be selected. If Sponsor receives an insufficient number of entries that it deems to be acceptable, Sponsor reserves the right to select fewer finalists, or terminate the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole and unfettered discretion to disqualify any entry that it believes contains obscene, offensive or inappropriate content that does not comply with these official rules or is inconsistent with the spirit or theme of the Contest. Limit one entry per person.



Prizes and Approximate Retail Values:



Top ten finalists will receive reimbursement for up to $500 from Aspen Writer's Foundation for a roundtrip economy plane ticket to New York City from anywhere in the 50 United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada, reimbursement for up to $500 for two nights lodging in New York City to be provided by Aspen Writer's Foundation, two hour workshop with Colum McCann, and an invitation to a party with top literary luminaries hosted by Esquire and the Aspen Writers' Foundation all at a total estimated value of $2,000/person. From the finalists, one finalist will be chosen as winner of a scholarship to 2012 Aspen Summer Words fiction workshop, 5 nights lodging in Aspen (booked by the Aspen Writers' Foundation), and reimbursement for up to $500 from Aspen Writer's Foundation for a roundtrip economy ticket to Aspen from anywhere in the 50 United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada, and will have his/her entry published by Esquire either in the magazine or online at esquire.com. The estimated retail value of the Winner's prize package, including the trip to New York is $8,000). Actual value may vary based on airfare fluctuations and distance between departure and destination. Finalists and winner will not receive difference between actual and approximate retail value. Finalists and winner must travel on the dates determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion or prize will be forfeited. Travel must be round trip. Sponsor will determine airline and flight itinerary in its sole discretion. No refund or compensation will be made in the event of the cancellation or delay of any flight. Travel is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Contest, and those set forth by the Sponsor's airline carrier of choice as detailed in the passenger ticket contract. All expenses and incidental travel costs not expressly stated in the package descriptions above, including but not limited to, any costs above $500 for air travel, any ground transportation, meals, incidentals, passenger tariffs or duties, airline fees, surcharges, airport fees, service charges or facility charges, personal charges at lodging, security fees, taxes or other expenses are the responsibility solely of finalists and winner. Finalists and winner may not elect to receive a cash pay-out instead of the prizes. If in the judgment of Sponsor air travel is not required due to finalist's or winner's proximity to prize location, ground transportation will be substituted for round trip air travel at Sponsor's sole discretion. Sponsor will not replace any lost, mutilated, or stolen tickets, travel vouchers or certificates. Sponsor is not responsible if the writers workshop is delayed, postponed or cancelled for any reason, in which event that portion of prize is forfeited in its entirety and no substitution will be provided except as in Sponsor's sole discretion. Finalist will be notified via phone, e-mail or postal mail, at Sponsor's discretion, on or about October 15, 2011. Incomplete, or mechanically reproduced entry forms or entry forms that have been tampered with will be disqulified.



ENTRIES:



Limit (1) one entry per person and per e-mail address for contest (referred to as the "Promotion"). Entries using macro, robotic, script or other forms of automatic entry will be disqualified. Entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be returned. No mechanically reproduced entries permitted. Proof of submission does not constitute proof of receipt. If there is a dispute as to the identity of an online entrant, the prize will be awarded to the authorized account holder of the email address. The "authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person to whom the email address is assigned by an internet service provider, online service provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.



ELIGIBILITY:



Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada who have reached the age of majority in their state or province of residence at time of entry, unless otherwise stated in the specific Promotion. Void in Quebec Province and where prohibited by law. Employees of Sponsor, Aspen Writers' Foundation and their respective parents, affiliates and subsidiaries, participating advertising and promotion agencies, the independent judging organization and prize suppliers (and members of their immediate family and/or those living in the same of household of each such employee) are not eligible.



Contact Information:



For submissions: submit online here



Website: http://www.esquire.com