San Luis Obispo NightWriters

21st Annual

500-Word Short Story Contest

and

Poetry Contest (40 lines maximum)

1^st Place $75, 2^nd Place $50—for both short story and poetry

Finalists receive Certificates

Contest is open to everyone, but eligible NightWriters will be entered into a drawing for a scholarship to the 2010 Central Coast Writers’ Conference.

Want to join? New memberships  that are combined with a contest entry will save $5.

Entries must be based on the theme: TRUST/BETRAYAL.

Use your imagination to expand this theme into a unique story or poetry idea.

Deadline: All entries must be postmarked by April 30, 2010

Entry Fee: $10 for first story or poem, $5 for each additional story or poem

e-mail (as attachment only) to

SLOnightwritersevents@yahoo.com

Or mail to

SLO Nightwriters Contest

5458 Bolsa Road

Atascadero, CA 93422

Complete rules and guidelines are on back of this flyer. For judging criteria and other info go to

www.slonightwriters.org

Scholarship for 2010 donated by the Central Coast Writers’ Conference XXVI

Upcoming conference will be held Sept 17 and 18, 2010.

For information go to www.communityprograms.net

CONTEST RULES

·         All writers are eligible except judges and contest director. Need not be a Nightwriters member.

·         You may submit more than one story or poem. Enclose a check for $10 payable to SLO Nightwriters for first story or poem; $5 for each additional story or poem. Email submissions (as attachment only.) Payment will be a “donation”. Follow site instructions for PayPal.

·         Your story must be based on the theme: TRUST/BETRAYAL. There are no limitations as to how this theme is interpreted. Use your imagination to create a unique entry.

·         Story limited to a maximum of 500 words EXCLUDING TITLE. Your story may have fewer words. Remember that, except for the title, every word counts. Hyphenated words count as two words.

·         Poems are limited to 40 lines. Avoid end rhymes. Choose a form that compliments the subject.

·         Must be typed 12 point Courier or Times New Roman (English language only.) Short stories double-spaced. Poems formatted as appropriate.

·         Hard copies include 2 copies of each story or poem. Write an identifying number such as the last four numbers of your Social Security number in the upper left hand corner of each page. (Names will disqualify)

ON A SEPARATE PAGE, type your name, mailing address, phone number, email address (if available), story title, exact word count, and the FOUR NUMBER identification number. Mail submissions to:

SLO NightWriters Contest

5458 Bolsa Road

Atascadero, CA 93422

Or e-mail cover entry and cover letter as attachment to slonightwritersevents@yahoo.com

Entries must be postmarked (and e-mails received) by April 30, 2010.

GENERAL INFORMATION

·         Prizes: 1^st Place $75; 2^nd  $50 for both fiction and poetry. Finalists will receive certificates.

·         All Nightwriter member entries will be entered into a drawing for a Scholarship to the 2010 Central Coast Writers’ Conference at Cuesta College. (Prize donated by CCWC.) Winner will be drawn at the June 2010 Nightwriters meeting. Must be present to win.

·         Judging decisions are final. Winners will be notified by May 25, 2010. Prizes will be awarded and winning stories read at the June 8^th NightWriters meeting. Prizes will be mailed if necessary.

·         Unless requested otherwise, winning entries will be published online in the NightWriter Newsletter. Sorry, manuscripts cannot be returned.

·         Stories are blind-judged on the following criteria: 1) strong beginning and conflict, 2) believable characters and an appropriate resolution, 3) spelling, grammar and punctuation, 4) the WOW factor (emotional impact on reader.) Both categories will be judged by qualified judges.

·         A list of winners will be posted after June 10^th at www.slonightwriters.org and announced in the NightWriter newsletter.