San Antonio Writers Guild Annual Contest
2010 CONTEST OVERVIEW
The San Antonio Writers’ Guild annual contest features five categories in the fiction, non-fiction and poetry fields and is open to all writers, both SAWG members and non-members. The deadline for entry is the first Thursday of October. Cash prizes are given in each category.
Categories
- Fiction categories:
- Novel, first 15 pages accompanied by a 2-page single-spaced synopsis of the entire novel
- Short story, 4,000-word limit
- Flash fiction, 1,000-word limit
- Non-fiction categories:
- Memoir/personal essay, 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 (including blank lines between verses), any style.
Prizes
The first place winner will receive $100, second place $50 and third place $25 for acceptable entries in each category. Acceptable entries are those that meet contest format guidelines.
The dollar amounts of cash prizes in a category are not based on the number of entries in a category. However, all advertised prize money may not be awarded. If the number of entries in a category falls below the minimum number (10), not all prizes may be awarded in that category.
(Includes submission guidelines, judging procedures, info about the Lorraine Berenson Memorial Award and more)
2010 JUDGE BIOS
- Novel: Chris Roberson -- Austin-based science fiction novelist
www.chrisroberson.net/about- Short Story: Andrew Porter -- Trinity University prof and Flannery O'Connor Award-winner
http://www.trinity.edu/departments/english/faculty.htm#ANDREW_PORTER- Flash Fiction: Lyle D. Rosdahl -- S.A. Current flash-fiction editor and Palo Alto College English teacher
http://www.deadratspress.com/
2009 CONTEST WINNERS
First Chapter of a Novel (Judge: Robert Flynn)
1. Barbara Lazar, "Pink Flower Samurai"
2. Karen Riedel, "A Knife in the Water"
3. Diane LaCombe, "The Ghosts of Ravenwood"
Finalist Rodney Walther, "Broken Laces"
Finalist David Plylar, "Sunset at Rocksprings"
Poetry (Judge: Jo LeCoeur)
1. Jean Jackson, "Drifting"
2. Joe Rigsby, "Radiation"
3. David Plylar, "Inauguration Day"
Finalist Samuel Urbina, "Dulcinea Dream"
Finalist Carol Meeks, "Preparing Enchiladas with the Lucketts"
Memoir (Judge: Yvette Benavides)
1. Junette Woller, "Wooden Spoons"
2. Janet Alyn, "Opposite Worlds"
3. Charlene Plover, "A Blind Date"
Finalist Doris Dianne Frazar, "A Christmas Memory"
Finalist Jean Jackson, "Dancing with Daddy"
Short Story (Judge: Joe McKinney)
1. Kenneth Bennight, "Badger Game"
2. Stewart Smith, "Summer's Child"
3. Samuel Urbina, "An Old Man"
Finalist Dani Jimenez, "Intersection"
Finalist Diane LaCombe, "Welcome to the ASPCA"
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.