The Shelterbelt Press 2017 Fiction Prize

We are excited to announce the first Shelterbelt Press Fiction Prize. The winning book will be published by Shelterbelt Press, housed at the University of Illinois Springfield, in Spring of 2019. Winners receive a $500.00 award, 25 copies of their book, plus a trip to the University of Illinois Springfield for a reading and launch party.

We believe in literature’s potential to create meaningful social change. To ensure that our winning books make it into the hands of readers and become part of the cultural landscape, we develop a specialized promotion plan for each winning author. This includes sending out review copies, marketing the book at a range of regional and national book fairs, creating broadsides of individual pieces, providing promotional materials, featuring the book on the Shelterbelt website, and working with the author to schedule readings.

*Manuscripts should be between 120-200 pages, and should be submitted in Microsoft Word, RTF, or PDF formats.

*We are happy to consider hybrid or collaborative works.

*Individual pieces may have been previously published in anthologies, print journals, online journals, etc., but cannot have appeared in any full-length collection, including self-published collections.

*Please remove your name and any identifying information from the manuscript itself. You may, however, include an acknowledgments page.

*The final judge for this year’s competition is Amina Gautier.

Amina Gautier is the author of three award-winning short story collections: The Loss of All Lost Things, which won the Elixir Press Award in Fiction and received the Chicago Public Library’s 21st Century Award; Now We Will Be Happy, which won the Prairie Schooner Book Prize, the USA Best Book Award in African American Fiction, the International Book Award, a Silver IPPY Award in Multicultural Fiction, a Florida Authors and Publishers Association Award Gold Medal in Short Fiction, and was Long-listed for The Chautauqua Prize in Fiction; and At-Risk, which won the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction, an Eric Hoffer Legacy Award, and a First Horizon Award.

You can read more about Amina here: https://aminagautier.wordpress.com/

*We will accept manuscripts from September 1, 2017, 12am CST – December 31st, 2017, 12 am CST. 

*Submit your contest manuscript through Submittable. We cannot accept hard copy manuscripts at this time.

*The entry fee is $20.00. Payments may be made with a credit card or PayPal via Submittable.

*We cannot allow revisions to manuscripts during the contest selection process.

*Winners and 10 finalists will be announced in Spring of 2018.

Eligibility: Previous book publication is not a consideration. Students and former students of University of Illinois Springfield or of this year’s judge may not enter; close friends of the judge or acquaintances whose relationship with the judge might be seen as close for other reasons that would seem to be a conflict of interest are also not considered eligible. (Query the press if doubtful.)

Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but entrants are asked to notify Shelterbelt Press immediately if a manuscript is accepted elsewhere.

Visit the website:

https://shelterbeltpress.submittable.com/submit/91573/the-shelterbelt-press-2017-fiction-prize

Lex:lead Scholarship Competition – 2017

NO ENTRY FEE.

Deadline: November 30, 2017

Lex:lead is a group of international lawyers and friends who support economic development focusing on the world’s least developed countries. We offer an annual essay competition on topics of law and development to the world’s least developed countries. In this way we transfer one-time US$500 awards to students addressing our fundamental question: What can law do to reduce poverty and foster economic growth? Candidates must have citizenship in an eligible country and be a law student enrolled in studies in an eligible country at the time of award. Up to ten awards will be granted in February 2018.

Visit the website:

http://www.lex-lead.org/Scholarships.php

 

ThePensters Essay Writing Contest: $1000 Scholarship for Your Essay

Take part in ThePensters Essay Writing Contest and get a chance to win $1000 scholarship for your college study!

2017 Cinematic Short Story Competition – Deadline Soon!

ScreenCraft’s 3rd annual Cinematic Short Story Contest is now accepting entries!  This year’s judges are from Random House Studios, Harper’s Magazine and Tin House Magazine!

The jury is looking for short fiction (not scripts) with special cinematic potential. Whether you’re writing flash fiction or a novella, the judges want to read your story!

The grand prize winner will receive $1,000 and personal introductions to literary agents, managers, film and TV producers and publishers. The top 5 finalists will be read by ScreenCraft’s network of over 40 literary and entertainment industry professionals. All rights and ownership to stories submitted to this contest remain with the author, until and unless other agreements are made.

Early deadline: November 4th, 2017 – Mark your calendar! 

Meanwhile, don’t miss ScreenCraft’s article in the Huffington Post: 5 Reasons Why Short Stories Are Easier to Adapt Than Novels

The 2017 jury includes: 

• Valerie Cates, Executive Story Editor at Random House Studios, the publishing giant’s film and TV production company responsible for developing and adapting the company’s huge library of books and stories.

• Cheston Knapp, Managing Editor of Tin House Magazine, which Stephen King called “an invaluable repository of fine American writing and American fiction, presented in a crisp and entertaining visual format.”

• Emily Cooke, Senior Editor at Harper’s Magazine, one of the most highly regarded publications for short stories in the English language, “providing readers with a unique perspective on politics, society, the environment, and culture. The essays, fiction, and reporting in the magazine’s pages come from promising new voices, as well as some of the most distinguished names in American letters, among them Annie Dillard, Barbara Ehrenreich, Jonathan Franzen, Mary Gaitskill, David Foster Wallace, and Tom Wolfe.”

ENTER HERE

And if you’re writing a screenplay, take a look at the prestigious ScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship, designed to develop and launch the careers of talented emerging screenwriters:

Early Deadline: 11/11/2017
Final Deadline: 3/1/2018

Featuring mentors at 5 major studios! Apply Here.

2018 WILLIAM SAROYAN INTERNATIONAL PRIZE FOR WRITING

Deadline for entries: January 31, 2018

Submissions are now being accepted for the 8th William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. Given by Stanford University Libraries in partnership with the William Saroyan Foundation, the award recognizes newly published works of fiction and nonfiction with a $5,000 award for the winner in each category. The prize is designed to encourage new or emerging writers and honor the Saroyan literary legacy of originality, vitality and stylistic innovation.

Entries must be received by January 31, 2018. For entry forms and more information on the prize, visit the Saroyan Prize website: http://library.stanford.edu/saroyan.

What works are eligible for the Saroyan Prize?
Works of fiction (novels, short story anthologies, or drama) or non-fiction (biography, history, or memoirs) by authors from around the world and first published during 2016-2017 are eligible for consideration. Works must be imprinted with either a 2016 or 2017 copyright date. Poetry will not be considered in this cycle. All entries must be predominately in English, and available for individual purchase by the general public. Works by members of The Saroyan Writing Prize Committee, members or officers of the William Saroyan Foundation, or previous winners are not eligible. Eligibility rules may be modified over time.

While all works fitting the above description are eligible, and all entries are welcome, note that the judges will be looking for works with strong literary merit that honor the Saroyan legacy. In past prize cycles, works that fell into a specific publishing sub-genre – juvenile, science fiction, Western, mystery, romance, erotic, self-help, religion, etc. – were frequently found to be outside of that legacy.

The award honors the Saroyan literary legacy. What is the Saroyan legacy or style?
Saroyan’s literary style is characterized by originality, stylistic innovation and what is often described as an “exuberant humanism”. It is this exuberance and desire to move art in new directions, rather than relevance to the particulars of Saroyan’s common settings or themes, that Saroyan Prize judges will be seeking. Of course, any artist’s work is best understood through direct experience, and judges for the Saroyan prize will make their choices based on their personal experience with Saroyan’s writings.

The prize is intended to encourage new or emerging writers. How is that defined?
Authors’ careers follow many different paths, and no single definition fits. Our judges will look at biographies and other background material to assess each submission. However, in general, authors who have published four or more books will not be considered new and emerging.

• What if I have published other literary material such as poetry or essays, does that count towards the four book limitation?
  The four book limitation is a guideline for the Saroyan Prize Committee and for those determining whether or not they are an author that is new and emerging, no matter the genre. If you consider yourself new and emerging, please do submit your book.

What is the deadline for entry?
Entries must be received at the Stanford University Libraries on or before January 31, 2018.

What materials must I submit to be considered for the prize?
A complete entry, consisting of the materials listed below, is required for consideration.

• A completed entry form, available here.
• Five copies of the publication (or PDF file if submitting an e-book).
• A $50 non-refundable entry fee. Payment may be made using Visa, MasterCard or American Express at the above website, or by check. Checks should be made payable to Stanford University/Saroyan Writing Prize, and must indicate the title(s) of book(s) being submitted. Multiple entries may be paid with one check.

What is the address for submission of entries?
Administrator of the Saroyan Prize
Stanford University Libraries
557 Escondido Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-6004

Must the publisher make the entry?
No, anyone (including the author) may submit an eligible entry.

Do you accept books that have been published outside of the United States?
Yes, we accept books that have been published from publishers in any country around the world.

Are self-published books eligible?
Yes, self-published books are eligible as long as they are available for individual purchase by the general public.

Are electronic books eligible?
Yes, books published electronically are eligible, assuming they are in a fixed state (such as a PDF) and readily available for purchase by the public. You may save a copy of your work on a flash drive and send it with your entry form and entry fee to the address above. Or, once you have submitted your form and entry fee, you may email the file directly to Sonia Lee.

Are translations eligible?
No, English translations of previously published foreign works are not eligible.

What is your Tax ID Number (TIN)?
94-1156365

I need a copy of your W-9 form to process a check for the entry fee. Where can I find the form?
You may find Stanford’s W-9 form here.

May I get my entry or entry fee back after I submit it to the Prize competition?
Entries are not returnable or refundable under any circumstance.

When will the winners be announced?
The winners will be announced in the summer of 2018.

How can I support the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing?
Individuals may encourage authors and publishers to submit excellent works for the competition. Individuals affiliated with Stanford University may also be eligible to help screen entries in early 2016. Please contact Sonia Lee at sonialee@stanford.edu for additional information about volunteering.

Administration of the prize also involves significant expense, and monetary support is always greatly appreciated. Tax-deductible cash gifts to the Stanford Libraries are, of course, always appreciated and can be directed specifically to the Saroyan Prize.

Who can I contact with further questions?
Please direct questions to Sonia Lee, sonialee@stanford.edu or 650-736-9538.

Search.University Essay Scholarship Contest

Search.University, a vast database of colleges and universities, announces a $2,000 scholarship contest to help students achieve their goals. We provide information on U.S. educational institutions to help students make the right choice, and are happy to run a contest to encourage current students to help others too.

To participate in the contest write an essay on the following theme: How my college helps me become a better specialist in the future.

Essay Requirements

• Minimum 250 words, no upper limit.
• Text must be unique and structured.

Share your personal experience and give an insight into the student life in a college/university you are currently studying at or are planning to enroll in. Make your essay useful to other students, current and prospective.

Eligibility Criteria

• You must be a student of any degree or majors or plan to apply to U.S. college or university.
• You must be above 17 years.
• High school students can participate in the contest.

To Submit an Essay:

1. Send your essay to scholarship@search.university as a text file in .doc or .pdf format (put “Search University Essay Contest” in the subject line) before February 15, 2018.
2. Mention your name, age, contact phone and the educational institution you study at or plan to enroll in.

Prizes

Authors of the three best essays will receive scholarships of $2000 in total:

• 1st place – $1000
• 2nd place – $600
• 3rd place – $400

Privacy

All private information will be kept confidential and will not be sold or used for spam. We reserve the right to publish your essay on the Search.University website.

We encourage college and high school students to take part in the contest and win a scholarship.

Visit the website:  https://search.university/essay-contest