2022 WYOMING WRITERS, INC. WRITING CONTEST GUIDELINES
Eligibility: All writers at any level. Fee per entry: $15. Deadline March 15, 2022
Categories: Prose
Adult Fiction (3500-word limit; short fiction, novel segments, scripts with treatments; maximum of 3 entries; one fee per 3500-word entry.)
Flash Fiction: (800-word limit; maximum 3 stories per entry; maximum of 3 entries; one fee per 3-story entry.)
Fiction for Children and Young Adults (3500-word limit; maximum 3 entries; one fee per 3500-word entry.)
Non-fiction: (memoir, opinion/essay, creative non-fiction, historical monograph; 3500-word limit; maximum 3 entries; one fee per 3500-word entry.)
Screenwriting: (1-act structure or scene treatment, 10-page limit, maximum 3 entries, one fee per entry)
Playwriting: (1-act structure or scene treatment, 10-page limit, maximum 3 entries, one fee per entry.)
Categories: Poetry
Traditional poetry (i.e., formal, regular meter, rhymed, etc. The poet is asked to specify the form of each poem: i.e. sonnet, limerick, ballad, ode, haiku, etc.) An entry may consist of a maximum of 3 distinct poems, 40 lines maximum per poem. Do not print more than 1 poem per page. One fee per entry; one entry per poet.
Free verse poetry: An entry may consist of a maximum of 3 distinct poems, 40 lines maximum per poem. Do not print more than 1 poem per page. One fee per entry; one entry per poet.
Fees:$15 per entry, per category.
Non-members welcome! Add $20 to any entry fee for an introductory one-year membership to Wyoming Writers, Inc.
WYOMING RESIDENCE IS NOT REQUIRED FOR MEMBERSHIP
IN WYOMING WRITERS, INC.
Awards/Prizes:
First Place (all categories) $75
Second Place (all categories) $50
Third Place (all categories) $25
Wyoming Writers, Inc. retains the right not to award all prizes.
The number of Honorable mentions, if any, are at the judges’ discretion.
Winners’ certificates and prize money will be awarded at the Wyoming Writers Inc. Annual Conference on June 3-5, 2022. Winners unable to attend will be mailed award payments and certificates following the Conference.
Winners will receive a citation (Author, title, category) in WYO-Writer Newsletter and on the Wyoming Writers, Inc. website. Winners may be asked to submit an optional excerpt, bio, or other material for publication.
Guidelines:
Original, unpublished work, author’s sole and exclusive property.
Submission to our contest must not violate any copyright, trademark, privacy, or publication right.
Simultaneous submissions accepted.
Entrant retains all rights except for award announcements.
Format
Submit work on 8.5 x 11-inch white paper. No handwritten entries.
Use standard (e.g., Arial, Courier, Times New Roman) 12-point font, double spaced.
For fiction and nonfiction begin title and text half-way down the first page.
One-inch margin minimum.
For Poetry:
One poem per page.
Limited to 40 lines which may require a second page.
May use various spacing.
No fancy fonts; no colors.
For Screenwriting & Playwriting:
Traditional formatting (stage play)
Traditional formatting (screenplay)
1-act structure or scene treatment
3500-word, 10-page limit
Standard 12-point font, Times New Roman or Courier, 1-inch margins
Include synopsis and stage directions where needed
Rules and restrictions:
Submission of work to contest confers permission to Wyoming Writers, Inc. to publish winning title and author’s name in website and newsletter.
Contestants may submit in multiple categories.
All checks/ money orders payable in U. S. currency to Wyoming Writers, Inc.
Refunds:
No refunds for disqualified, late, or withdrawn entries.
How to Enter:
Submit a single copy of each entry; do not staple; use only paper clips if necessary.
Place title and page number in the header on each manuscript page.
Author’s name must not appear anywhere on the manuscript to be judged.
Author’s name, address, phone number, and email address must appear on each entry’s cover sheet along with category, work’s title, word count. Cover sheet for poetry may contain up to 3titles.
Attach check made payable to “Wyoming Writers, Inc.”
Mail entries to: Wyoming Writers, Inc.—2022 Contest, c/o Tom Spence, P.O. Box 98, Buffalo, WY 82834.
No entries will be returned.
Judging:
Judges will receive materials without identifying information.
All judges’ decisions are final.
Notification and Public Announcement:
Winners only will be notified by email or telephone.
Winners may be asked for biographical material to accompany announcement of awards.
Winners will be announced at the annual Wyoming Writers Inc. conference on June 3-5, 2022 in Sheridan, Wyoming.
First place winning authors will have an opportunity to read a 300-word excerpt, or a first place poem, during the Conference.
All submissions must be postmarked by March 15, 2022. Winners will be notified by early May, 2022.
Any questions, please contact Wyoming Writers, Inc. at wyowriters@gmail.com.