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NOW OPEN: Short Fiction 2012
DEADLINE: March 15, 2012
We are proud to announce that the 2012 Short Fiction contest will be judged by award-winning author Antonya Nelson!
**More categories to be added soon.
Submission Guidelines
Open Submissions
You do not need to be a member of NCW or in Colorado to enter the contests.
Prizes
Each category will be awarded the following:
1st place: $200
2nd place: $100
3rd place: $50
Winners and Honorable Mentions will be published in the annual winners' anthology (due out December 1, 2011) and receive 1 free copy. The judges' decisions are final.
Entry Fees
The entry fee for all contests is $10 per submission via mail. Should you choose to e-mail your entry instead of mailing, there will be an additional $5 processing fee per entry, thus $15 per submission via email. There is no limit to the number of entries you may submit. You may submit up to 3 poems per entry fee in the Poetry category.
Minimum Number of Entries
To ensure the contest has a diverse and competitive field, each writing category must have a minimum of 40 entries in order to be valid. If the minimum number of entries is not received, your entry fee will be returned.
Returning Entries
Please note that entries will not be returned. All entries will be shredded after contest closing.
Copyrights
All submissions must be your own original work. Simultaneous submissions are okay, but please let us know if your submission is accepted elsewhere, as this may affect our ability to publish it should it be selected as a winner. Submissions can be previously published, however, you must own the rights to republish in the event that your submission wins. All winning entries will be published in the 2011 Anthology.
Format
Short fiction and essays must be in a 12 point standard serif font (Times New Roman preferred) and double spaced, pages numbered. Include a cover sheet with your contact information and the title of your piece. Do not include your name on the submission itself, only the title. If submitting by mail, please send 1 copy of your submission to 108 East Monroe Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525.
Word Limits
Short stories: 5,000 words
Personal essays: 3,000 words
Poems*: 250 lines each
*Entrants may submit up to 3 poems per entry fee in that category.
2011 Anthology
The anticipated release date for the 2011 Anthology is February 15, 2012. Winners will receive a free copy. Additional copies may be purchased from NCW.
Email your entry:
1. Pay online.
2. Email your entry (attachment or in body of email) to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
OR...
Mail your entry with $10 cash or check made payable to Northern Colorado Writers:
Northern Colorado Writers
108 E. Monroe Dr.
Fort Collins, CO 80525
2011 Short Fiction Winners
Judged by Pam Houston
1st: "Clarice Johnson" by Michelle Auerbach - Boulder, CO
2nd: "Bonecrusher" by Sonya Whitesell - Fort Collins, CO
3rd: "Leaving Tomorrow" by Tammi Schissler - Austin, TX
HM: "Tulips" by Michelle Auerbach - Boulder, CO
HM: "In the Company of Doc Campilletti" by Robert Robeson - Lincoln, NE
Personal Essay/Creative Nonfiction (for 2012 contest series)
Submissions accepted: February 1 - April 15, 2012
The personal essay should be about a personal experience, told in your own words, with a great story and a great theme. This nonfiction category differs from the final category in our series in that this is a personal story, most likely told from the 1st person POV, whereas the News Article category is about a topic of interest or controversy that has been researched.
2011 Personal Essay/Creative Nonfiction Winners
Judged by John Calderazzo
1st: "Mahlapane's Story" by Jerry Eckert - Vail, AZ
2nd: "Naamu" by Lynn Carlson - Cheyenne, WY
3rd: "Samaritans" by Alice Ollstein - Washington, DC
HM: "What Egypt Has" by Salma Warshanna - Ellicott City, MD
HM: "Second Chances" by Kathleen Donnelly - Johnstown, CO
HM: "Take No Chances" by Leonard Ewy - Fort Collins, CO
HM: "In Praise of Water" by Hudson Spivey - Missoula, MT
Poetry (for 2012 contest series)
Submissions accepted: May 1 - July 15, 2012
You may submit up to 3 poems (any style, maximum 250 lines each) for each entry fee.
2011 Poetry Contest Winners
Judged by Chris Ransick
1st Place: "Diamondback" by Sally Clark - Fredericksburg, Texas
2nd Place: "Throwing Stones" by Sandra McGarry - Fort Collins, Colorado
3rd Place: "Poet Disappears in Japan" by Dixie J-Elder - Longmont, Colorado
HM: "The Team" by Janet Kamnikar - Fort Collins, Colorado
HM: "Hollow Heart" by Patricia Frolander - Sundance, Wyoming
HM: "Lost Cowboy" by W. A. Ewing - Loveland, Colorado
HM: "FAQ (On the Poet's Home Page)" by W. A. Ewing - Loveland, Colorado