ARKANSAS WRITERS' CONFERENCE

LITERARY AWARD RULES    1. AWARDS made only if contest fee of $20 has been paid, enabling one to enter all contests unless otherwise instructed. (OUT-OF-STATE entrants are limited to Ten (10) contests), Payable by check or money order to: Pioneer Branch NLAPW/AWC and mailed on or before APRIL 23, 2022 to Ellen Withers, 1815 Columbia Drive, Conway, AR 72034. Entry Must Include Contest Registration Form & entry fee. Conference registration does not include this entry fee. 2. DEADLINE for postmarking manuscripts is APRIL 23, 2022. Entries destroyed two weeks after conference. AWC not responsible for manuscripts lost, delayed in mail, or received too late for judging. Do not send SASE. No manuscript returned. No winners’ list mailed but will be posted on the website, www.arkansaswritersconference.net. 3. Only one typed, unpublished manuscript may be entered per contest. Double-space prose, single-space poetry. Use only 12-point font. Standard manuscript form as stated by www.whitecountycreativewriters.com listed below. . Failure to meet all contest specifications including word limits, line limits or page limits will result in disqualification. 4. NO MANUSCRIPT MAY BE ENTERED IN MORE THAN ONE CONTEST. No one may enter contest for which he/she is sponsor, chairman, or judge. 2021 AWC first place contest winners may not enter a contest this year if it is identical. If contestants do not adhere to all rules, entries will be disqualified. 5.  PUT CONTEST NUMBER AND NAME OF AWARD in upper left corner of each entry. Do not put your name on any manuscript. Do not staple. Use paper clips. Attach a cover sheet to each entry with: (1) Number and name of contest; (2) Title of entry; (3) First line of entry; (4) Your name, phone number, and mailing address.

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Formatting for Contests

1. Use a simple type style like Times Roman or Courier, 12 point preferred, on a letter quality printer. DO NOT use fancy type faces or script styles. The goal is to make the manuscript look professional and pleasant to read.

2. Use white copy paper, 20 pound or better, 8-1/2 x 11 inches. NO onion skin, lined or colored stock.

3. Follow contest rules for identification of manuscripts. Name/address should not to appear on judges’ copy.

4. Double space all prose manuscripts. Poetry may be single-spaced. DO NOT justify right-hand margins. Allow 1 to 1-1/2 inch margins all around.

5. Drop down about half-way on the first page then center your title. DO Not put your name below the title, unless the contest rules call for it.

6. Start your text below the title indenting each paragraph 5 spaces. DO NOT add extra space between paragraphs.

7. Contests can vary on header requirements, but usually require the name of the contest to be placed in the upper left corner and the page number and word count should be placed in the upper right corner. Check the rules for any specific instructions on this issue. The text should begin 3 or 4 spaces below this header.

8. Type on one side of paper only. Paper clip the finished pages together - do not staple unless instructed to do so - and do not put the manuscript in a folder.

THIS FORM MUST ACCOMPANY FEE

AWC CONTEST REGISTRATION FORM

Enclosed is my $20 contest registration fee. I understand this allows me to enter as many contests as I choose (see contest list for restrictions). This contest fee does not include the conference registration fee. Complete address is needed for the mailing of award monies and certificates.

Name:____________________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________

City: ______________________________________ State __________ Zip Code: _______

Phone: _____________________ Email: ________________________________________

Mail this form by April 23^rd, 2022 with check or money order payable to NLAPW/AWC to: Ellen Withers, 1815 Columbia Drive, Conway, AR 72034

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Literary Contests

Contests 1-5 CONFERENCE ATTENDEES and/or ARKANSAS RESIDENTS. Cash Awards Vary.

1. Carl J Iannacone Memorial Award ($50/$30/$20) Short Story. Subject: Last Love Letter from Your Spouse. 1000 words max. Chair: Brenda Iannacone

2. WOW! Press Award. ($100/$60/$40) The Hardest Truth I’ve Ever Told, Short Personal Memoir Narrative Subject: What was the most difficult truth you've told? 500 Words Chair: Janis F. Kearney

3. Mistletoe Award. ($25/$15/$10) Short Story. Subject: Puppy Rescue. 1500 words max. Chair: Brenda Iannacone

4. Youth Poetry Award, ($25/$15/$10) Free Verse. Any Subject. 10-40 lines. Open only to youth age 10-17. Contest fee and conference registration fee for youth is free. Chair: Sara Gipson

5. Dilemma Award. ($25/15/$10) Short Story. Romance; Choice: Childhood Memories vs Meet Cute Encounter: Which will it be? Boy Next Door or Stranger in Town. (The dilemma is internal debate to determine which man is more worthy and will bring future happiness. Story details should analyze her thought processes.) 1200 word max. Chair: Brenda Iannacone

Contests 6-17 OPEN TO ALL. Cash Awards for contests 6-17 vary.

6. The Erdel Family Memorial Award. ($25/$15/$10) Humorous Short Story. Any genre. 2500 words. No erotica or slasher/horror. Chair: Ellen Withers.

7. IT’S NEW TO ME CONTEST  ($25/$15/$10) Any Genre, Any Subject. 1500-2000 word limit. Chair: Kim Vernon/Gary Rodgers. Story must not have been entered in any previous contest.

8. Del Garrett’s Gimme The Creeps. ($25/15/$10) Fiction Horror. Ghost Story. 1500-2500 words max. Chair: Del Garrett

9. The Great Escape ($25/$15/$10). How Did the Guard Dog Disappear? 1200 words. Chair: Brenda Iannacone

10. Fiction Who-Dunnit Award. ($50/$30/$20). Short Mystery Story. The Case of the Shoeless Thief. 1500 words. Chair: Brenda Iannacone

11. AR Pioneer Branch NLAPW Prose Award. ($50/$30/$20) Humorous short story about Learning to Change a Tire. 1200 words Chair: Brenda Iannacone

12. AR Pioneer Branch NLAPW Poetry Award. ($50/$30/$20) Free Verse. Any subject. 24 line limit. Chair: Brenda Iannacone

13. White County Creative Writers Award (($25/$15/$10) Poetry Free Verse Subject: Creation, 24 lines max. Chair: WCCW

14. LaViness Award for Living Mystery, ($25/$15/$10) Mystery Short Story: Any subject. Not a murder mystery, No deaths allowed. 2000 words max. Chair: Renee LaViness

15. Scott Plantation Settlement Award. ($25/$15/$10).  Historical Action/Romance Short Story. Must include these words: settlement, sorghum, corn, mule, blacksmith, church, bell.2500 words. www.scottconnections.org. Chair: Sara Gipson  

16. Fantasy Short Story ($25/$15/$10) Any Subject; 2500 words. One scene must be set in an old library. Chair: Jennifer Landers

17. Weather You Like It Or Not ($25/$15/$10) Subject: Humorous Fantasy Short Story. Character learns to manipulate weather & learns from the results. 2500 word max. Chair: Carol Hodges. FREE Critique offered if you request it on the first page of the entry.

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SPECIAL MEMORIAL AWARD CONTESTS (Open to All)

18. Embracing Humor Award ($50/$30/$20). EMBRACING HUMOR. Poetry. Subject: Humor Free Verse. 30 line limit. Chair: Rita Goodgame

19. Henry & Betty Heidelberger Memorial Prose Award. ($25/$15/$10) Subject: Pigs at the County Fair. 1200 word. Chair: Brenda Iannacone

20. Dorothy Truex Memorial Prose Award. ($25/$15/$10) Romance Short Story. Story that occurs outside of a dance studio (excluding a dance studio) such as a barn dance or high school auditorium. Use your imagination as to where a dance could take place.1500-2000 words. Chair: Ellen Withers

21. Peggy Vining Memorial Essay Award. ($25/$15/$10) Subject: Heir to the Family Home. 750 word max. Chair: Pioneer Branch NLAPW

22. Jim Barton Memorial Poetry Award. ($25/$15/$10) Tricube-each line contains 3 syllables; each stanza contains 3 lines; each poem contains 3 stanza. Subject: Any subject, no rules for rhymes, meter, etc. Length: 3 stanzas. Chair: Ellen Wither

23. Dusty Richards Memorial Prose Award. ($25/$15/$10) Western Short Story. 2000-3000 words. Chair: Ellen Withers

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