2013 Writing Contest Guidelines

The Appalachian Heritage Writers Symposium will continue with the writing contests again this year. If you are interested in entering, please read the guidelines carefully.

Writing Contest Guidelines for 2013

Age Categories:

Youth – 6th through12th Grade for the 2012/2013 Academic Year

Adult – Post High School

Genre For All Age Categories:

NOTE: Formatting guidelines listed below must be followed for entry to be accepted.

Poetry – limited to 30 lines or less – use 12 point type

Essay – Limited to 1,500 words -double-spaced – use 12 point type

Short Story -limited to 2,500 words – double-spaced – use 12 point type

Entry Fee Per Submission:

Adult – $10.00/submission – non-refundable

Youth – $5.00/submission – non-refundable

Submission Guidelines: (Attendance at symposium not required to enter)

1. All entries, along with cover sheets (see item 3 below), must be submitted electronically and received no later than May 1, 2013.

2. Please submit your entry using Microsoft Word as either a .doc or .docx file type.

3. The cover sheet must include the title of entry, your genre, age category and your contact information including your name, address, email address and phone number. Do not put your name or other personal information on the submission itself, only on the cover sheet.

Submissions must be emailed to: leahlee1@verizon.net

4. After submitting your entry electronically, please download the entry form by clicking on the link below:

Writing Contest Entry Form 2013

Print and complete the downloaded entry form and mail, along with your entry fee, to the address below.  Make checks payable to the SWCC Foundation.

You must complete a separate entry form for each submission. An entry will not be sent to the judges until the fee and entry form has been received. Send the entry fee and form to:

Addie Davis, Writing Contest Coordinator

Appalachian Heritage Writers Symposium

204 Valley Road

Rosedale, VA 24280

Award amounts per genre:

Youth 6th-12th Grade: 1st Place – $125.00, 2nd Place – $50.00, and 3rd Place – $25.00

Adult: 1st Place – $250.00, 2nd Place – $100.00, and 3rd Place – $50.00

The awards will be presented at the Awards Banquet on June 15. Winners not present will receive their awards by mail.

9 thoughts on “2013 Writing Contest Guidelines

  1. Is it $10 for only one poem?
    Are the cover sheet and poem(s) supposed to be two separate pages all in one file, or two separate files?
    Thanks.

    • Hello Ruth,
      The cost is $10.00 per entry. In other words, it would $10.00 for each poem, short story or essay you may want to submit. If you send in three different submissions it would be $30.00, four submissions – $40.00, etc.
      As for the cover sheet. You can include the cover sheet with its poem in one file but just make sure you have one file for each poem, etc., you may submit. Also, make sure the cover sheet is on a separate page within the file. In other words, when we print off your poem we want the cover sheet to print off on a page all to itself. We can’t have any “personal identifiers” as to who you are on the poem itself, only on the cover sheet. I hope this answers your questions. Let me know if I need to clarify more. We’re always more than happy to help.
      Trish

      • Trish has explained the entry format well and I do appreciate it. We look forward to hearing from all of you writers and would-be writers. I can honestly say that winning a writing competition gave me the courage to begin writing for publication. So open a Word document or whatever you use and let the creative juices flow. I just know you have a wonderful story.

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