WD Popular Fiction Awards
A Short Story Competition from Writer's Digest
Compete and Win in all 5 Categories!
The Grand Prize-Winner will receive $2,500 cash, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and the 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer's market.
Entry Deadline: Monday, November 03, 2008.
For entrants paying with a credit card, we will accept manuscripts submitted online.
Compete and Win in 5 Categories!
- Romance
- Mystery/Crime Fiction
- Science Fiction/Fantasy
- Thriller/Suspense
- Horror
Entry Fee: All entries are $12.50
Prizes | Contest Rules | Judging & Notification | Questions | Privacy Promise | FAQ | Entry Form
Prizes
Grand Prize: $2,500 cash, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and the 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer's market.
First Prize: The First Place-Winner in each of the five categories receives $500 cash, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and the 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer's market.
Honorable Mention: Honorable Mentions will receive promotion in Writer's Digest and the 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.
For entrants paying with a credit card, we will accept manuscripts submitted online.
Entry Deadline: Monday, November 03, 2008
Competition Rules
The Categories:
You may enter as many manuscripts as you like in each of the following categories: Romance, Mystery/Crime Fiction, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller/Suspense and Horror. All manuscripts must be 4,000 words or fewer.
Preparing Your Entry:
- If you are submitting your entry via regular mail, the entry must be accompanied by an Official Entry Form or facsimile, and the required entry fee (credit card information, check or money order made payable to Writer's Digest). If you are entering more than one manuscript, you may mail all entries in the same envelope and write one check for the total entry fee; however, each manuscript must have its category indicated in the upper left-hand corner.
- Your entry must be original, in English, unpublished and unproduced, not accepted by any other publisher or producer at the time of submission. Writer's Digest retains one-time publication rights to the Grand Prize, First Prize, and Honorable Mention winning entries in each category to be published in a Writer's Digest publication.
- If you are submitting your entry via regular mail, the entry must be typed on one side of 8-1/2 x 11 white paper (computer printout acceptable) or A4 paper. Manuscripts must be double-spaced. Online entries may lose double-spacing. This WILL NOT result in disqualification. If you are entering via regular mail, your name, address, phone number and competition category must appear in the upper left-hand corner of the first page—otherwise your entry is disqualified. No refunds will be issued for disqualified entries.
- Be sure of your word count! Entries exceeding the word limit will be disqualified. Type the exact word count (counting every single word, except the title) at the top of the manuscript.
- Mailed entries must be stapled.
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Judging and Notification
- Every entry will be read by the judges. Judges' decisions are final.
- Judges reserve the right to re-categorize entries.
- Entries must be postmarked by Monday, November 03, 2008. We cannot return submitted manuscripts; however, to receive notification of the receipt of your manuscript, send a self-addressed stamped postcard along with your entry.
- The following are not permitted to enter the contest: employees of F+W Media, Inc., and their immediate family members; Writer's Digest contributing editors and correspondents as listed on our masthead; Writer's Online Workshops instructors; and Grand Prize Winners from the previous three years in any Writer's Digest competitions.
- Top Award Winners will be notified by mail before March 16, 2009. Winners will be listed in the July/August 2009 issue of Writer's Digest.
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Questions?
For questions, contact us at (715) 445-4612 ext. 13430 or email popularfictionawards@fwpubs.com
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FAQ
Q: Is it okay to have illustration pictures on the cover?
A: Please send the text only
Q: If there is a word count, how many words per page am I allowed?
No preference
Q: How large of print is allowed?
No preference
Q: Are pen names allowed?
Pen names are fine. Write your pen name on all forms etc. so there is no mistakes on credits. Please be advised that we only need your real name if you are chosen as a winner (in order to issue prizes).
Q: What if I am not a U.S. resident?
WD writing competitions are open to non-U.S. residents as well. Please refer to the entry form and guidelines. All entry fees are due in U.S. Dollars.
Q: Is there an age limit for entrants?
No
Q: What if I wanted to submit only part of my novel into the competition (to stay with in the maximum number of words)?
If you submit a portion of a novel please understand that it will be judged as a complete story, not part of another work, so it needs to a complete story in and of itself.
Q: Can the same title be entered in multiple categories of the WD Popular Fiction Awards?
Yes, it can
Q: When will winners be notified?
Top Award Winners will be notified by mail before March 16, 2009. Winners in each category will be listed in the August 2009 issue of Writer's Digest. Prizes/awards certificates will be mailed by April 30, 2009.
Q: What are the word count requirements for each category?
The word count for all categories is 4,000 words maximum.
Q: How do I order books published by F+W Media?
www.fwbookstore.com/category/writers-digest
Q: How do I subscribe to Writer's Digest?
visit www.writersdigest.com and click on the link
Q: Are there other writing competitions?
Yes! Visit www.writersdigest.com/competitions for other competitions for writers
Privacy Promise
Occasionally we make portions of our customer list available to other companies so they may contact you about products and services that may be of interest to you. If you prefer we withhold your name, simply send a note with your name, address, and the competition name to: List Manager, F+W Media, Inc., 4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236.
Entry Form
To submit your entry online, visit our secure online entry form.
To enter via regular mail, use the printable form, and send it with your manuscript and entry fee to:
WD Popular Fiction Awards
700 East State Street,
Iola, WI 54990
