In addition to looking for submissions to the new poetry anthology, the Maryland Writers’ Association is also running two contests at the moment.  And this time, if you’re not a member, you can still take a shot!  The Short Works Contest opens December 27th and closes February 6th, while the Novel Contest opens November 15th and runs until January 3rd.  Personally, I’d like to see the Novel Contest turned into a “Long Works” competition to open it up to book-length works of non-fiction (one of which I have sitting in my proverbial top drawer).  That said, I’ll probably throw something at the Short Works and see if it sticks.

Here are the details:

2011 MWA Short Works Contest

The goal of this contest is to encourage and recognize outstanding writing in short fiction, short non-fiction, and poetry.

Opens: December 27, 2010
Closes: February 6, 2011

Submissions: Fiction or nonfiction. Maximum 3000 words. Poetry: Maximum 50 lines. Original, unpublished work, written in English.

Entry Fee: $10 per submission for MWA members; $15 per submission for non-members. Payment by PayPal.

Prizes:  First Prize in each category: $150, free attendance at the MWA Annual Writers Conference in April 2011; Second Prize: $100; Third Prize: $75. Each winner and one guest are invited to a Writing Awards celebration in conjunction with the Conference.

Instructions: Complete instructions and a submission link will be posted on  www.MarylandWriters.org November15, 2010.

2011 MWA Novel Contest: Great Beginnings

The goal of this contest is to encourage and recognize outstanding writing, using the first 25 pages as a gauge because this is what most literary agents ask to see first.

Opens: November 15, 2010
Closes: January 3, 2011

Submissions: The first 25 pages of your original, unpublished novel, written in English, will be accepted only online.  Every contestant will receive helpful feedback by email.

Entry Fee: $30 per submission for MWA members; $35 per submission for non-members. Payment by PayPal online.

Categories*:

  • Mainstream/Literary
  • Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
  • Romance

*Note 1: Historical novels will not be judged as a separate category.
*Note 2: Three other categories will be featured for the 2012 contest. Plan ahead.

Prizes: First Prize in each category, $200, and free attendance at the MWA Annual Writers Conference in April 2011;
Second Prize in each category, $125. Third Prize, $100.  Each winner and a guest are invited to a Writing Awards celebration in conjunction with the April 2011 Writers Conference.

Instructions: Complete instructions and submission link will be posted on www.MarylandWriters.org November 8, 2010.