Yesterday I jotted down a list of thirteen URLs I found in The Writer's Chronicle submit pages for what I thought were no-fee submission calls, which I thought would produce a solid list of ten sup ops. After checking each web site and reading the particulars, I had to cross off eight of them because turns out they did require an entry or reading fee.
I don't like recommending anything a writer has to pay for in order to have a chance at publication or winning an award because 1) I firmly believe you should never pay a dime to get published; 2) most writers can't afford it; 3) it's a subversive but very common way for obscure publications and presses to make money off other people's hopes and dreams; and 4) before I turned pro I was nearly a victim of a scam dressed up like a real sub op.
That said, you'll probably be surprised to hear that a month ago I paid a fee to enter a novel contest. I wasn't happy about forking over that money, but I did it for a couple of reasons: the genre isn't one I've published in yet, and winning virtually guarantees publication. This may result in a decent opportunity for me to try my luck in another corner of the market.
Will I win the contest? Honestly, I have no idea. What I most liked about this one is that the judging is blind (meaning the judges won't know who wrote the entries until after they pick their winner.) Everyone who enters will be evaluated solely on the quality of their work. Which means it's not a popularity contest, no one can campaign or schmooze their way to a win, and thus I have the same chance as everyone else. To me that's the only way it can be fair.
If you're contemplating any contest that requires an entry fee, you should first realistically evaluate your chances of winning. For example, if the contest is open to every writer on the planet, you're probably going to have considerable competition. If the contest is restricted solely to writers who live on top of mountains in Colorado, naturally the odds are better. Also look at what they want for entries. For novel competitions, most any writer can produce a partial; I have a filing cabinet full of them. Fewer writers will have completed manuscripts to enter, so a contest requiring finished books offers a better chance.
Some people say the amount of the entry fee determines what sort of writer enters, in that a high fee will discourage the untalented. I don't agree with this; plenty of terrible writers enter contests no matter what the fee is because they're convinced that they're great writers and it's just a matter of time before their genius is recognized and they go on to make millions. Most contest entities encourage and even bank on this kind of self-delusional mentality; it makes them a lot of money.
If you're a member of a writing organization, you have the chance to enter plenty of the fee-required contests they run. Some can be helpful as long as you're in a position to win. Are you a popular member, and does most everyone in the organization like you? Also, are you allowed to in some way campaign for the award? If yes, you've probably got a real shot. If no, don't waste money you could be using for office supplies and postage.
Finally, be prepared not to win. One of the reasons I've avoided contests is that early on in my career I saw what losing them did to other writers. Losing a contest can be worse than rejection, especially if the winner got their trophy for reasons other than the quality of their work.
What fee-required contests do you think are fair and/or offer decent awards? Please share them and any links you have in comments.
Added: I've also been pitching this particular novel for awhile, and just this morning I received word from my agent that an offer is in the works for it (ah, the irony.) But even if the interest does result in a contract, I don't have to pull the entry out of the contest. According to the rules, which I read carefully before I entered, I can still compete as long as the offer for the ms. comes in after the entry deadline.
Showing posts with label grants and awards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grants and awards. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Monday, March 22, 2010
Grant Me Ten
Dylan Thomas Center ~ Dylan Thomas Prize offers a prize of £30,000 (approximately $48,000), given annually to honor a book of poetry or fiction that “displays creative, imaginative, and innovative use of the English language” by a writer under 30. Publishers may submit three copies of a book published between May 1, 2008, and April 30, 2010, by April 30. There is no entry fee. E-mail or visit the Web site for the required entry form and complete guidelines. Deadline: April 30, 2010.
Lake Forest College ~ Madeleine P. Plonsker Emerging Writer’s Residency offers a prize of $10,000 and a two-month-long residency at Lake Forest College will be given annually to a poet or a fiction writer to complete a work-in-progress. The winner also will receive publication of his or her manuscript by &NOW Books, an imprint of Lake Forest College Press. Writers who are under the age of 40 and who have not published a book are eligible. This year’s contest is for poets. Robert Archambeau, Joshua Corey, and Davis Schneiderman will judge. Submit up to 30 pages of poetry, a project statement, and a curriculum vitae by April 1. There is no entry fee. Deadline April 1, 2010.
The Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award is a prize of $500 and publication by Lotus Press, and is given annually for a poetry collection by an African American poet. Submit two copies of a poetry manuscript of 60 to 90 pages; no entry fee. Send an SASE, e-mail, or visit the Web site for complete guidelines. Deadline: March 31, 2010.
New Hampshire State Council on the Arts has fellowships of $5,000 each, which are given biennially to New Hampshire poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. New Hampshire residents who are not enrolled full-time in a degree-granting program are eligible. Submit six copies of up to 15 pages of poems or up to 30 pages of prose and a resumé by April 9. There is no entry fee. Visit the Web site for the required entry form and complete guidelines. Deadline: April 9, 2010.
Novello Festival Press ~ Novello Literary Award offers a prize of $1,000 and publication by Novello Festival Press, given annually for a book of fiction or creative nonfiction by a North Carolina or South Carolina writer. Submit a manuscript of 200 to 400 pages by May 1. There is no entry fee. Send an SASE, call, or visit the Web site for complete guidelines. Deadline: May 1, 2010.
Passaic County Community College ~ Paterson Fiction Prize is a prize of $1,000 and is given annually to honor a novel or short story collection published in the previous year. Publishers may submit books published in 2009 by April 1. There is no entry fee. Send an SASE, call, or visit the Web site for the required entry form and complete guidelines. Deadline: April 1, 2010.
Poets & Writers Magazine offers several grants to organizations to help cover fees involved with writers' fees and appearance costs at sponsored readings and workshops. There are some geographical restrictions and other fine print involved, but this could help if your writer or charitable organization needs funding help for an author event; see web site for more details.
Five Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowships of $15,000 each are given annually to emerging poets. Writers who are U.S. citizens between the ages of 21 and 31 as of March 31 are eligible. Using the online submission system, submit 10 pages of poetry, a one-page writer’s statement, and a list of publications by March 31. There is no entry fee. Visit the Web site for the required entry form and complete guidelines. Deadline: March 31, 2010.
The SLF Older Writers Grant is awarded annually to a speculative fiction writer who is fifty years of age or older at the time of grant application, and is intended to assist such writers who are just starting to work at a professional level. We are currently offering one $750 grant annually, to be used as the writer determines will best assist his or her work. No fee or previous publication credits required; see web site for other details; deadline is March 31, 2010.
Washington Center for the Book offers two prizes of $500 each, given annually to honor books of poetry and fiction by writers who were born in Washington or have lived in the state for at least three years. Publishers or authors may submit six copies of books published in 2009 by April 1. There is no entry fee. Send an SASE, call, e-mail, or visit the Web site for the required entry form and complete guidelines. Deadline: April 1, 2010.
Lake Forest College ~ Madeleine P. Plonsker Emerging Writer’s Residency offers a prize of $10,000 and a two-month-long residency at Lake Forest College will be given annually to a poet or a fiction writer to complete a work-in-progress. The winner also will receive publication of his or her manuscript by &NOW Books, an imprint of Lake Forest College Press. Writers who are under the age of 40 and who have not published a book are eligible. This year’s contest is for poets. Robert Archambeau, Joshua Corey, and Davis Schneiderman will judge. Submit up to 30 pages of poetry, a project statement, and a curriculum vitae by April 1. There is no entry fee. Deadline April 1, 2010.
The Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award is a prize of $500 and publication by Lotus Press, and is given annually for a poetry collection by an African American poet. Submit two copies of a poetry manuscript of 60 to 90 pages; no entry fee. Send an SASE, e-mail, or visit the Web site for complete guidelines. Deadline: March 31, 2010.
New Hampshire State Council on the Arts has fellowships of $5,000 each, which are given biennially to New Hampshire poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers. New Hampshire residents who are not enrolled full-time in a degree-granting program are eligible. Submit six copies of up to 15 pages of poems or up to 30 pages of prose and a resumé by April 9. There is no entry fee. Visit the Web site for the required entry form and complete guidelines. Deadline: April 9, 2010.
Novello Festival Press ~ Novello Literary Award offers a prize of $1,000 and publication by Novello Festival Press, given annually for a book of fiction or creative nonfiction by a North Carolina or South Carolina writer. Submit a manuscript of 200 to 400 pages by May 1. There is no entry fee. Send an SASE, call, or visit the Web site for complete guidelines. Deadline: May 1, 2010.
Passaic County Community College ~ Paterson Fiction Prize is a prize of $1,000 and is given annually to honor a novel or short story collection published in the previous year. Publishers may submit books published in 2009 by April 1. There is no entry fee. Send an SASE, call, or visit the Web site for the required entry form and complete guidelines. Deadline: April 1, 2010.
Poets & Writers Magazine offers several grants to organizations to help cover fees involved with writers' fees and appearance costs at sponsored readings and workshops. There are some geographical restrictions and other fine print involved, but this could help if your writer or charitable organization needs funding help for an author event; see web site for more details.
Five Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowships of $15,000 each are given annually to emerging poets. Writers who are U.S. citizens between the ages of 21 and 31 as of March 31 are eligible. Using the online submission system, submit 10 pages of poetry, a one-page writer’s statement, and a list of publications by March 31. There is no entry fee. Visit the Web site for the required entry form and complete guidelines. Deadline: March 31, 2010.
The SLF Older Writers Grant is awarded annually to a speculative fiction writer who is fifty years of age or older at the time of grant application, and is intended to assist such writers who are just starting to work at a professional level. We are currently offering one $750 grant annually, to be used as the writer determines will best assist his or her work. No fee or previous publication credits required; see web site for other details; deadline is March 31, 2010.
Washington Center for the Book offers two prizes of $500 each, given annually to honor books of poetry and fiction by writers who were born in Washington or have lived in the state for at least three years. Publishers or authors may submit six copies of books published in 2009 by April 1. There is no entry fee. Send an SASE, call, e-mail, or visit the Web site for the required entry form and complete guidelines. Deadline: April 1, 2010.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Grant and Award Ops
Ten Things About Grants and Awards for Writers
1. A Room of Her Own Foundation $50,000 Gift of Freedom: AROHO is accepting applications from female writers in poetry, playwriting, creative nonfiction, and fiction; $35 application fee (I usually don't list ops with hefty entry fees, but this is a nice award, especially for a writer who wants to take six months to a year off from the day job.) See details about the application process and form to download in Word or .pdf format here. Deadline: Apply before October 31, 2008.
2. Astraea Foundation Lesbian Writers Fund: Astraea offers two annual $10,000 grants to emerging lesbian poets and fiction writers. Applicants must have published work at least once in a newspaper, magazine, literary journal or anthology, but must not have published more than one book in any genre. See guidelines at the web site for more details and to download the grant application. $5 entry fee, deadline is June 30, 2008.
3. Bard College Fiction Prize: Bard offers a $30,000 prize and a one-semester appointment as a writer-in-residence at Bard College to a U.S. fiction writer under the age of 40. See web site for more details; submit cover letter explaining what they plan to work while at Bard, a CV and three copies of a published book of fiction. No entry fee, deadline is July 15, 2008.
4. Frost Place Resident Poet Award: A prize of $2,000 and a two-month residency at Robert Frost's former home in Franconia, New Hampshire awarded to a poet who has published at least one poetry collection. Submit three poems and a personal statement; see web site for more details. No entry fee, deadline is July 1, 2008.
5. La Universidad de California Premio Literario Chicano/Latino: A prize of $1,000, publication and an all-expenses-paid trip to the award ceremony in Irvine, California to be awarded to a U.S. resident or citizen Chicano or Latino writer of a short story collection written in Spanish or English. See web site for more details and guidelines on submitting. No entry fee, deadline is June 1, 2008.
6. Literary Arts Oregon Literary Fellowships: Fellowships of $2,500 given to Oregon writers to initiate, develop or complete literary projects in poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction. Women writer fellowships of $1,000 are given to Oregon women writers for projects that explore experiences of race, class, physical disability or sexual orientation. See web site for more details and guidelines. No entry fee, deadline is June 27, 2008.
7. Maine Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship: A fellowship of $13,000 awarded to a writer of poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction who is a resident of Maine. See web site for guidelines, tips on submitting and application. No entry fee, deadline is June 27, 2008.
8. University of Michigan Press Michigan Literary Fiction Award: A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Michigan Press for a novel by a writer of at least one published fiction novel or story collection in English. See web site for complete details and guidelines. No entry fee, deadline is July 1, 2008.
9. University of Pittsburgh Press Drue Heinz Literature Prize: A prize of $15,000 and publication by University of Pittsburgh Press for a collection of short fiction. Open to writers who have previously published a book of fiction or a minimum of three short stories or novellas in nationally-distributed magazines. See web site for more details and guidelines. No entry fee, deadline is June 30, 2008.
10. Teachers & Writers Collaborative Bechtel Prize: A prize of $2,500 and publication in Teachers & Writers Magazine given for an essay that relates to creative writing education, literary studies, or the profession of writing. See web site for more details. No entry fee, deadline is June 30, 2008.
These listings as well as fifty others can also be found in the May/June 2008 print issue of Poets & Writers magazine.
1. A Room of Her Own Foundation $50,000 Gift of Freedom: AROHO is accepting applications from female writers in poetry, playwriting, creative nonfiction, and fiction; $35 application fee (I usually don't list ops with hefty entry fees, but this is a nice award, especially for a writer who wants to take six months to a year off from the day job.) See details about the application process and form to download in Word or .pdf format here. Deadline: Apply before October 31, 2008.
2. Astraea Foundation Lesbian Writers Fund: Astraea offers two annual $10,000 grants to emerging lesbian poets and fiction writers. Applicants must have published work at least once in a newspaper, magazine, literary journal or anthology, but must not have published more than one book in any genre. See guidelines at the web site for more details and to download the grant application. $5 entry fee, deadline is June 30, 2008.
3. Bard College Fiction Prize: Bard offers a $30,000 prize and a one-semester appointment as a writer-in-residence at Bard College to a U.S. fiction writer under the age of 40. See web site for more details; submit cover letter explaining what they plan to work while at Bard, a CV and three copies of a published book of fiction. No entry fee, deadline is July 15, 2008.
4. Frost Place Resident Poet Award: A prize of $2,000 and a two-month residency at Robert Frost's former home in Franconia, New Hampshire awarded to a poet who has published at least one poetry collection. Submit three poems and a personal statement; see web site for more details. No entry fee, deadline is July 1, 2008.
5. La Universidad de California Premio Literario Chicano/Latino: A prize of $1,000, publication and an all-expenses-paid trip to the award ceremony in Irvine, California to be awarded to a U.S. resident or citizen Chicano or Latino writer of a short story collection written in Spanish or English. See web site for more details and guidelines on submitting. No entry fee, deadline is June 1, 2008.
6. Literary Arts Oregon Literary Fellowships: Fellowships of $2,500 given to Oregon writers to initiate, develop or complete literary projects in poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction. Women writer fellowships of $1,000 are given to Oregon women writers for projects that explore experiences of race, class, physical disability or sexual orientation. See web site for more details and guidelines. No entry fee, deadline is June 27, 2008.
7. Maine Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship: A fellowship of $13,000 awarded to a writer of poetry, fiction or creative nonfiction who is a resident of Maine. See web site for guidelines, tips on submitting and application. No entry fee, deadline is June 27, 2008.
8. University of Michigan Press Michigan Literary Fiction Award: A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Michigan Press for a novel by a writer of at least one published fiction novel or story collection in English. See web site for complete details and guidelines. No entry fee, deadline is July 1, 2008.
9. University of Pittsburgh Press Drue Heinz Literature Prize: A prize of $15,000 and publication by University of Pittsburgh Press for a collection of short fiction. Open to writers who have previously published a book of fiction or a minimum of three short stories or novellas in nationally-distributed magazines. See web site for more details and guidelines. No entry fee, deadline is June 30, 2008.
10. Teachers & Writers Collaborative Bechtel Prize: A prize of $2,500 and publication in Teachers & Writers Magazine given for an essay that relates to creative writing education, literary studies, or the profession of writing. See web site for more details. No entry fee, deadline is June 30, 2008.
These listings as well as fifty others can also be found in the May/June 2008 print issue of Poets & Writers magazine.
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