ARKANSAS WRITERS' CONFERENCE

LITERARY AWARD RULES    1. AWARDS made only if we receive contest fee of $20 (enabling one to enter all contests) unless otherwise instructed, (OUT-OF-STATE entrants are limited to Ten (10) contests), check or money order made payable to Arkansas Writers’ Conference and mailed on or before APRIL 10, 2023 to Ellen Withers, 1815 Columbia Drive, Conway, AR 72034 Must Include Contest Registration Form & entry fee. Conference registration does not include this entry fee. 2. DEADLINE for postmarking manuscripts is APRIL 10, 2023. 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.com. 3. Only one typed, unpublished manuscript , one entry per contest, one contest per entry. Double-space prose, single-space poetry. Use only 12-point font. Standard manuscript form as stated by www.whitecountycreativewriters.org listed below. Meet all contest specifications including word, line, and page limit. 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. 2022 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, email address and mailing address.

Revised Formatting for Contests

1. Use a simple, easy-to-read font like Times New Roman, Arial, Verdana, Tahoma or Courier, 12-point size, black text. NO fancy typefaces or script styles. The goal is to make the manuscript look professional and pleasant to read.

2. Use white bond paper, 20 pound or better, 8-1/2 x 11 inches. No onionskin, lined or colored stock. Type on one side only.

3. Double space all prose manuscripts. Poetry may be single or double-spaced.

4. On prose, drop down about one third to half-way on the first page, then center your title. On poetry, this is not necessary. For short manuscripts where this would push a small paragraph onto an additional page, adjust the size of this as needed. The purpose is to create a pleasant-appearing manuscript.

5. Start your text two to four spaces below the title.

6. Indent each paragraph, typically 5 spaces or .5”. NO extra space between paragraphs. Left justify text and set margins to 1 to 1-1/2” all around.

7. Headers: Put contest name in the upper left. Put word count in upper right. Page numbers are recommended for manuscripts over two pages long, and may be placed in upper right header or in the footer. The text should begin 3 or 4 spaces below this header.

8. Attach a cover sheet with name, contact information, title and first line of manuscript. Put title only on manuscript. NO name or other identifying information on judges’ copy. Paper clip or staple the finished pages together, and attach cover sheet to front. Do not put the manuscript in a folder.

9. Mail entries so that they are postmarked by the deadline. There is no need to use special mailing services. Media mail with tracking or first class mail is fine. We wait a reasonable time after the deadline date to ensure entries

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 and contest entries by April 10, 2023 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 1-4 CONFERENCE ATTENDEES and/or ARKANSAS RESIDENTS. Cash Awards Vary.

1. Carl J Iannacone Memorial Award ($25/$15/$10) Short Story. Subject: How a Teacher Changed Your Life, 1000 words max.; Chair: Brenda Iannacone

2. WOW! Press Award. ($100/$60/$40) Nonfiction. Title: Pivot Point: That Moment I Decided the Rest of My Life; Short-Short Memoir; 1000 Words or less; Chair: Janis F. Kearney

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

4. Youth Prose Award ($25/$15/$10) Open to all youth are 10-17, Mystery Story, Any Subject 2000 word limit. Contest fee and conference registration fee are free. Chair: Sara Gipson

Contests 5-18 OPEN TO ALL. Cash Awards for contests 5-17 vary.

5. Uncle Rube’s Tales Award, ($50/$30/$20) Historical Fiction, Subject: Make War No More. 1500 to 2500 words. Additional Information: A battle scene from a non-combatant’s perspective (Revolutionary War, War of 1812, or Civil War only) Chair: Anthony Wood

6. The Erdel Family Memorial Award. ($25/$15/$10) First five pages of your novel and a two-page summary of the entire novel (must include how novel ends). Any genre. Subject: Any subject. Put genre in upper corner of first page. Limit: 7 pages. The 5 novel pages must be double-spaced, the summary can be single or double spaced. Chair: Ellen Withers.

7. Creative Non-Fiction Award  ($25/$15/$10) Make the Ordinary seem extraordinary. 1500-2000 word limit. Chair: Little Red Writing Hood (Kim Vernon/Gary Rodgers).

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). What Happened to the Silverware? 1200 words. Chair: Brenda Iannacone

10. Fiction Who-Dunnit Award. ($50/$30/$20). Short Mystery Story. The Best Hiding Place You Can’t Remember. 1500 words. Chair: Brenda Iannacone

11. AR Pioneer Branch NLAPW Prose Award. ($50/$30/$20) Humorous short story about Last Family Road Trip 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) Science fiction/fantasy Subject: Any, min/max 2000-2500 word range. Chair: WCCW (WCCW members not allowed to enter)

14. LaViness Award for Living Mystery, ($25/$15/$10) Mystery Short Story: Any subject. Not a murder mystery, No deaths allowed. Examples: kids or animals hunting down a mystery, or bad guys on a search. “Creative” always gains extra points. 1500 to 2000 words. Chair: Renee LaViness

15. Time and Again Award, ($25/$15/$10) Science-Fiction, Subject: Time Travel, 1500-2000 words. Take us on a trip we won’t forget. Chair: Novel Idea Critique Group

16. Scott Plantation Settlement Award ($25/$15/$10). Mystery Short Story. Must include at least one building at Scott Settlement 2500 words. www.scottsettlement.com. Chair Sara Gipson

17. Fantasy Short Story ($25/$15/$10) Fantastical Notions. 3000 words. One scene taking place in a mystical forest and include one paranormal/mythical being. Chair: Jennifer Landers

18. Pick A Wish ($25/$15/$10) Subject: Fantasy Short Story. Character grants One supernatural wish each to 3 people (or beings). Show how recipients are chosen, and include result of wishes granted (successful, failure, or mixture). 2500 word max. Chair: Carol Hodges. Brief critique given if requested on first page of story.

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SPECIAL MEMORIAL AWARD CONTESTS (Open to All)

19. Embracing Humor Award ($50/$30/$20). Poetry. Subject: The Keepsake; Free Verse. 30 line limit. Chair: Rita Goodgame

20. Henry & Betty Heidelberger Memorial Prose Award. ($25/$15/$10) Subject: A Diamond in the Rough. 1200 word. Chair: Brenda Iannacone

21. Dorothy Truex Memorial Prose Award. ($25/$15/$10) Romance. Use characters and names of your favorite romance story/book/movie. Place them in a time/era different from the original version. Examples: Pride & Prejudice set in modern times (like Bridget Jones’s Diary) or The Princess Diaries set in mediaeval times. 2500 word limit. Chair: Ellen Withers

22. Peggy Vining Memorial Essay Award. ($25/$15/$10) Subject: The Joy in the Words. 750 word max. Chair: Pioneer Branch NLAPW

23. Jim Barton Memorial Poetry Award. ($25/$15/$10) Form: Epitaph. Subject: Write an epitaph for a well-known person who has passed (historical or famous). Title is the name of the person you are writing about. Length: 30 words. Additional information: Epitaph can be serious or humorous. Example: “She did it the hard way,” Betty Davis; “That’s all folks!” Mel Blanc; “Nailed it!” Martin Luther. Chair: Ellen Withers

24. Dusty Richards Memorial Prose Award. ($25/$15/$10) Western Short Story. Subject: In a chase/hunt for a bad guy (or gal), the hero or heroine faces many obstacles to overcome. In the end, the bad guy (or gal) faces justice. 3000 maximum words. Chair: Ellen Withers

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2023 ARKANSAS WRITERS’ CONFERENCE 

AWC Director: Brenda Iannacone

  Email: brendaiannacone@gmail.com Phone: (501) 960-5014

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