2008 Contest Rules : Judges' Bios : 2007 Winners : Publication Policy
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San Antonio Writers Guild Annual Writing Contest

2008 CONTEST RULES

The San Antonio Writers' Guild annual writing contest features five categories in the fiction, non-fiction, and poetry fields and is open to all writers. The deadline for entry is the first Thursday of October. Cash prizes are given in each category. The contest is open to members of the San Antonio Writers' Guild and to non-members.

Click here to download the 2008 Entry Form »

Categories

Fiction categories:

Novel, first chapter, 5,000-word limit
Short story, 4,000-word limit

Non-fiction categories:

Book, first chapter, 5,000-word limit
Essay, memoir, or article 2,500-word limit

Poetry category:

One to three poems equal one entry for fee purposes. Each poem will be judged individually. There is a 40-line limit per poem, any style, any genre.

Prizes

First place will receive $100, second place $50, and third place $25 for acceptable entries. Acceptable entries are those that meet contest format guidelines and are not grossly flawed due to excessive spelling or grammatical errors.

Cash prizes in each category are not based on the number of entries per category. All advertised prize money may not be awarded. If no acceptable entries are received in a category, no prize will be awarded in that category.

Contest Rules

The contest is open to any writer.
The non-refundable entry fee is $20 for non-members and $10 for members, payable by check or money order only, to the San Antonio Writers' Guild.
Each writer may submit entries in up to three different categories. A writer may receive an award in each category entered.
Each writer may submit up to two entries in each category. However, a writer may not receive more than one award per category.
Entries that do not meet the submission guidelines or do not fit the contest categories (such as screen plays, plays, or movie scripts) will not be considered and the entry fee will be forfeit.
All entries must be previously unpublished in any paying medium. Entries may be submitted for publication and in other contests at time of entry. If the entry is accepted for publication after being submitted and the entry is suitable for the anthology, the entry may not be included in any anthology the Guild may publish.
Entries may be submitted to the contest coordinator at the September or October meeting or mailed to the Guild’s post office address.

     San Antonio Writers Guild
     P.O. Box 34775
     San Antonio, TX 78265

Mailed entries must be postmarked by the deadline date (October 2, 2008) and received by the following Wednesday. The San Antonio Writers' Guild is not responsible for lost, misdirected, or undelivered manuscripts.

The deadline for hand-delivered submissions is Thursday, October 2, 2008, at the monthly Guild meeting.

Late entries will not be accepted.

Submission Guidelines

Submit two copies of each entry, typed and double-spaced with one-inch margins, on white 8.5" x 11" paper, pages numbered. The font must be Times New Roman 12 pt. or Courier 10 pt.

Do not fold or staple the entries.

The title and category must appear in the upper right corner or the upper left hand corner of each page. The title of the work must be on the first page near the top and before the text of the work.

The author’s name must not be on any page except the entry form. The entry form should list the author's name, the title of the work, and the category. Entry forms are available for download here, from the contest coordinator, or at the guild meeting when turning in the entry. The contest coordinator or his/her assistants may help the writer determine what category their entry fits.

Click here to download the 2008 Entry Form »

Place both copies of the entry and the completed entry form and the contest fee (check or money order only) in the entry envelope. Print the title of the entry and the category on the outside of the envelope. DO NOT print your name on the envelope. Entry envelopes will be available from the contest coordinator or at the guild meetings. If submitting more than one entry, each entry must be in a separate envelope. Each entry must have its own entry form.

Up to three poems may be included in one entry, but each poem should be on (a) separate page(s). All three poems are to be included in the same envelope with just one entry form listing up to three poem titles.

Entrants may write one check to cover all entry fees, but each entry must have its own entry form as stated above.

Manuscripts will be available for return to entrants who attend the December meeting.

If you cannot attend in December and want your entry returned, please provide a SASE. Entries not accompanied by a SASE or not picked up at the December meeting will be destroyed.

Memorial Prize

The winning entry in non-fiction essay will be designated as The Lorraine Berenson Memorial Award winner. The first place money of $100 is funded from the Lorraine Berenson memorial endowment.

JUDGES' BIOS

Poetry — Jo LeCoeur
Jo LeCoeur is a poet and educator who writes extensively on Southern writers and Southern culture. Her books of poetry include Medicine Wood, Blues in a Red-eye Glass, Choc’lit Milk and Whiskey Voices and Blue Orleans. She teaches English and creative writing at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.
Get more info or buy Medicine Woods »

Short Fiction — Jay Brandon
Jay Brandon is a successful San Antonio attorney and mystery novelist who has won accolades for infusing his gripping suspense stories with true-to-life legal details. His books include Running with the Dead, Grudge Match and Silver Moon. His 15th novel, Milagro Lane, is due out this fall.
Get more info or buy Jay Brandon's books »

First Chapter of a Novel — David Liss
Edgar Award-winner David Liss is a writer of best-selling historical thrillers, the latest of which, The Whiskey Rebels, is due out this fall. San Antonio-based Liss’ second novel, The Coffee Trader, was named a New York Times Notable Book and one of the New York Public Library 25 Books to Remember for 2003.
Get more info or buy David Liss' books »

Non-fiction — Yvette Benavides
Yvette Benavides teaches creative writing and Mexican-American literature at San Antonio’s Our Lady of the Lake University. Her articles and poetry have appeared in the Texas Observer, the San Antonio Express-News and Latina magazine. She also co-hosts Texas Public Radio’s Texas Matters and contributes to NPR’s Latino USA.

2007 CONTEST WINNERS

The jud

ges have rendered their decisions and the Guild is proud to announce the Contest Winners for 2007. We thank all who entered and remind everyone that the 2008 contest is closer than you think. Plan now to meet next year's October deadline.

Fiction - Novel, 1st Chapter

Rebecca Ugolini - 3rd
Marjorie Brody - 2nd
D. P. Hymel - 1st

Fiction - Short Story

Jasmine Ojeda - 3rd
Marjorie Brody & Rebecca Ugolini - Tie for 1st

Poetry

Ernest Sanchez, Sr. 3rd
Jasmine Ojeda 2nd
Jean Jackson 1st

Children & Young Adult

Sid Hamer 2nd
Marjorie Brody 1st

Non-Fiction

Jean M Jackson earned the Lorraine Berenson Memorial Award

PUBLICATION POLICY

The San Antonio Writers' Guild reserves anthology publication rights for a period of one year from date of contest deadline for all winning entries without further compensation to the entrants. SAWG will, upon written request from the entrant, release all holds and return full publication rights to the writer. Although it is SAWG's intent to publish an anthology using, among other material, contest winning entries, it is under no obligation to do so. Unfortunately, the San Antonio Writers' Guild is not in a position to offer additional compensation to writers appearing in any anthology edited and/or published by the Guild.