Writing It Real Winter 2010-11 Poetry & Essay Contest
Writing it Real
Reading Period: December 4 – February 15, 2011
Everyone’s a winner in this Writing It Real contest. Send in a draft you are wondering how to develop, a free-write you hope is going somewhere, or a piece you think may be finished about which you want a second opinion; within two weeks you’ll have received detailed response from Sheila Bender, author of over ten books on writing, most recently Writing and Publishing Personal Essays from Silver Threads publishing and Creative Writing Demystified forthcoming January 14, 2011 from McGraw-Hill. After you receive the response, you will have until March 15, 2011 to enter a revision into the final judging (by a guest editor) at no additional cost.
The earlier you submit your work, the more time you will have for rewriting. Initial entries may be up to three poems or up to 1500 words of prose (prose rewrites you may extend beyond the 1500 words). Rewrites will be entered into the final judging. If you don’t revise, your initial entry will be entered into the final judging.
Prizes!
By March 30, our guest judge will announce three winners. They will receive a tuition waiver ($120) for a Writing It Real online class and a half-hour consult by phone with Sheila. But, remember, everyone’s a winner because everyone receives professional editorial response to their writing!
Contest Submission Guidelines
Contest Deadline: Work must be sent electronically or postmarked by February 15, 2011. First drafts can be up to 1500 words of prose or three poems. Expect Sheila’s response to the work by email within two weeks. There is no additional fee for the revised draft to be entered for judging. Our electronic submission form and mailing directions are below. Second drafts may be longer than the initial entry and should be mailed or emailed (info@writingitreal.com) by March 15.
$15 Reading Fee for Current WIR Subscribers: The electronic submission and payment form is below. If you are sending a check from outside the United States, be sure the amount in US dollars is officially typed by a bank and not handwritten. Checks should be made payable to: “Writing It Real.”
$45 Reading Fee for new subscribers or renewals: This includes $30 for a year’s subscription to Writing It Real and $15 for the contest reading fee. Once you are a subscriber, you’ll receive valuable weekly articles about writing and the writing life, as well as discounts on future contests and online classes. If you are sending a check from outside the United States, be sure the amount in US dollars is officially typed by a bank and not handwritten. Checks should be made payable to: “Writing It Real.” The electronic submission and payment form is below. To read more about Writing It Real please visit our magazine page.
Note: International entrants who use Ikobo for payment may submit their manuscript to info@writingitreal.com Credit cards are accepted using the link supplied with the online submission form.
Mailed Essays: The submitted essays and poems must be accompanied by the reading fee and a cover sheet that contains the author’s name, title of the works, phone number, address and email. Pages should be numbered. Don’t worry; the cover sheet won’t be counted toward length; so again, please make the cover page separate from the essay. Mailed submissions will NOT be returned — NO SASE’s please.
Paper submissions should be mailed to:
Writing It Real Contest
394 Colman Drive
Port Townsend, WA 98368