Mona O'Connor Poetry Contest Contest Deadline: February SWM meeting. 1. Contest is limited to SWM members only. 2. Four dollars non-refundable fee per entry (i.e., per title). Cash or check OK. One check can cover multiple entries. Make check payable to Southwest Manuscripters. 3. Maximum three entries per person. In keeping with the purpose of the SWM to encourage writers, especially new writers, only previously unpublished material is allowed. That means not seen in any medium (book, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, Internet) with circulation of more than 200 readers. Rule of Thumb: If a judge may already have seen your entry, it is ineligible. 4. Poetry entries, may be single or double-spaced, single-sided, with an easy-to-read typeface, and legible. If the entry can't be read, it can't be judged. [Note: Courier 12 is considered an industry standard] Staple multiple pages in the upper left corner. 5. Submit four copies of each entry. Note word count (max 2000) on page one. 6. Entrant's name may not appear anywhere on the entry. You may indicate intended market on page one (e.g., children's magazine, sci-fi magazine). 7. Although the contest has four judges, no judge is obliged to provide a written critique. 8. Enclose one 3x5 index card per entry (i.e., per title) with entrant's NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE, and TITLE OF ENTRY. Add EMAIL ADDRESS if possible. 9. Put all items (entries, 3X5 card(s), payment) in one large envelope. Include an SASE with the correct postage for returning your entries if unable to attend the awards meeting where prizes will be distributed. 10. Awards will be presented at the SWM meeting in the month following the contest deadline. Winners of more than one top award will receive one cash prize for the highest scoring entry and honorable mention for any others. In case of tie for a top award, each individual entrant will receive the same cash award. 11. Winners who wish their entries to be published in The Write Stuff should be prepared to forward winning entries to Southwest Manuscripters, TWS Editor: or on a disk or Flash/Jump Drive in WORD, TXT or RTF format to J.P. Van Gordon, 3620 West 144th Street, Hawthorne, CA 90250, after awards are presented. Disks may be submitted at the same time as entries, and will be returned at a later time. 12. Entries that do not comply with the above rules will be rejected and the entry fee will be forfeit. Contest Chair to be received before the February Meeting. Do NOT mail entries to the Editor or the SWM P.O. box. |