2014 Kansas Authors Club District 5
Writing Contest Rules
1) The contest is open to all writers of all ages, regardless of membership or district. We will not have a special youth contest; they can enter the regular one.
2) First place winners will receive cash award of $25, second and third will get Honorable Mention certificates. If any category receives less than five entries it will not be judged though judges can review and give feedback.. A credit/refund will be given to those who entered a non-judged category.
3) Fees will be $5 for members, $10 for non-members per entry. Only one entry per person per category. Non- members may include a State KAC Membership Application with applicable dues to qualify for the reduced entry fee. Checks should be made out to KAC DISTRICT #5.
4) Please have your entries publicly presentable and appropriate to a general audience. It will be up to judges to decide if language or situations are appropriate to the story.
5) Entrant must designate in which category the piece belongs.
Categories & word limits:
a) Humor – Fiction – 1200 words
b) Humor – Non-fiction – 1200 words
c) Most embarrassing moment – 1000 words
d) Most memorable moment – 1000 words
e) Christmas story – 1000 words
f) Science fiction or fantasy – 1200 words
g) Story for youth 10-18 – 1000 words
h) Poetry rhymed – 50 lines
i) Poetry unrhymed – 50 lines
j) Story about a photo that the contest chair will supply - 500 words. There will be a separate photo contest for each month that the overall contest runs. For instance, for the photo posted August 1, contestants will have until August 31 to submit the stories about that photo. On September 1, a new photo will be posted and a new contest begins. The last photo will be posted December 1. A contestant may enter a story for each photo.
ENTRY FORMAT/RULES
Entries need to be in English and mechanically printed or typed in a common print style in 12 or 14 point pitch, double-spaced, on white 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheets with 1- 1 1/2 inch margins.
A cover sheet for all entries submitted at one time should include the author's name with complete contact information. Include a list of each entry presented with the title, word count and category.
At the top of the first page of each separate entry include the title, category and word count. Exclude the writer's name on the entries.
It is suggested to send your entries in a 10 x 13 inch envelope. If you wish your work returned, please include a folded 9 x 12 inch SASE for that purpose. All entries need to be postmarked prior to 1/1/15.
WRITING GUIDELINES
Entries are to be from works written by those who enter. They are to be officially unpublished and not have won money in other contests as of the date entered into this contest.
Proofreading for proper content and accuracy is very important, since proper grammar, spelling, punctuation and normal paragraphing format will be a judging factor in ranking the entries within the categories. Leeway will be given to work where obvious grammar deviations/spelling are part of the writer's story theme.
Should an anthology of the winning entries be printed in the future, entrants will be given the option to have their works included or not.
JUDGING
Judges, who may be KAC members, will be required to critique the work submitted and will denote problems along with positives of the author's work. Critique sheets or notes on the entries from the judges will be returned if the author includes a self-addressed and sufficiently stamped envelope of ample size to hold the entries to be returned.
SUBMISSIONS
Mailed entries are to be postmarked prior to 01/1/15 and sent to KAC DIST #5 Contest Chair Ray "Grizzly" Racobs @ 401 North Lorraine, Wichita, KS, 67214.
For questions contact Ray with a call or text (preferred over a call) or email him (even better) at [email protected]
To save on postage, participants are encouraged to hand deliver their entries to Griz at any remaining 2014 KAC District #5 monthly meeting at the Ford Rockwell Library. Remember there will not be an October monthly meeting so folks will be able to attend the state conference.
Winners will be announced in the spring.
If anyone would like to sponsor a category, contact Ray "Grizzly" Racobs as detailed above.
2) First place winners will receive cash award of $25, second and third will get Honorable Mention certificates. If any category receives less than five entries it will not be judged though judges can review and give feedback.. A credit/refund will be given to those who entered a non-judged category.
3) Fees will be $5 for members, $10 for non-members per entry. Only one entry per person per category. Non- members may include a State KAC Membership Application with applicable dues to qualify for the reduced entry fee. Checks should be made out to KAC DISTRICT #5.
4) Please have your entries publicly presentable and appropriate to a general audience. It will be up to judges to decide if language or situations are appropriate to the story.
5) Entrant must designate in which category the piece belongs.
Categories & word limits:
a) Humor – Fiction – 1200 words
b) Humor – Non-fiction – 1200 words
c) Most embarrassing moment – 1000 words
d) Most memorable moment – 1000 words
e) Christmas story – 1000 words
f) Science fiction or fantasy – 1200 words
g) Story for youth 10-18 – 1000 words
h) Poetry rhymed – 50 lines
i) Poetry unrhymed – 50 lines
j) Story about a photo that the contest chair will supply - 500 words. There will be a separate photo contest for each month that the overall contest runs. For instance, for the photo posted August 1, contestants will have until August 31 to submit the stories about that photo. On September 1, a new photo will be posted and a new contest begins. The last photo will be posted December 1. A contestant may enter a story for each photo.
ENTRY FORMAT/RULES
Entries need to be in English and mechanically printed or typed in a common print style in 12 or 14 point pitch, double-spaced, on white 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheets with 1- 1 1/2 inch margins.
A cover sheet for all entries submitted at one time should include the author's name with complete contact information. Include a list of each entry presented with the title, word count and category.
At the top of the first page of each separate entry include the title, category and word count. Exclude the writer's name on the entries.
It is suggested to send your entries in a 10 x 13 inch envelope. If you wish your work returned, please include a folded 9 x 12 inch SASE for that purpose. All entries need to be postmarked prior to 1/1/15.
WRITING GUIDELINES
Entries are to be from works written by those who enter. They are to be officially unpublished and not have won money in other contests as of the date entered into this contest.
Proofreading for proper content and accuracy is very important, since proper grammar, spelling, punctuation and normal paragraphing format will be a judging factor in ranking the entries within the categories. Leeway will be given to work where obvious grammar deviations/spelling are part of the writer's story theme.
Should an anthology of the winning entries be printed in the future, entrants will be given the option to have their works included or not.
JUDGING
Judges, who may be KAC members, will be required to critique the work submitted and will denote problems along with positives of the author's work. Critique sheets or notes on the entries from the judges will be returned if the author includes a self-addressed and sufficiently stamped envelope of ample size to hold the entries to be returned.
SUBMISSIONS
Mailed entries are to be postmarked prior to 01/1/15 and sent to KAC DIST #5 Contest Chair Ray "Grizzly" Racobs @ 401 North Lorraine, Wichita, KS, 67214.
For questions contact Ray with a call or text (preferred over a call) or email him (even better) at [email protected]
To save on postage, participants are encouraged to hand deliver their entries to Griz at any remaining 2014 KAC District #5 monthly meeting at the Ford Rockwell Library. Remember there will not be an October monthly meeting so folks will be able to attend the state conference.
Winners will be announced in the spring.
If anyone would like to sponsor a category, contact Ray "Grizzly" Racobs as detailed above.