19th ANNUAL CALLIOPE FICTION CONTEST

Readers won’t find me publicly promoting contests very often. However, Calliope Magazine, A Special Interest Group (SIG) of American Mensa, Ltd., is a not-for-profit organization designed to promote reading and writing, something I’m passionate about, and the very reason I write this column. Their annual short fiction contest is open to anyone who has a story to tell. And, I can assure you from my personal experiences with Calliope that the judging is fair and unbiased. Before I had any books published, I entered Calliope’s 17^th annual contest. My entry “Love and Crescendium” (science fiction) placed fourth (1^st Honorable Mention). Last year, my entry “The Caretaker” (literary fiction) won first prize. No, I won’t be entering this time because of last year’s win. 

This is a competition for novice and experienced writers alike. Judging is based solely on the merits of the entry, regardless of genre, as long as the contest’s rules are followed to the letter. I once had an entry disqualified because I goofed. Yes, I really did. Follow the rules. Note also that if entrants include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE), a mini-critique of your story will be provided, regardless of whether or not your story is awarded a prize. 

So, I encourage writers young and old, new and experienced, to give this contest a shot. Good luck, and I hope to read your winning entry soon!

19th ANNUAL CALLIOPE FICTION CONTEST 

Theme: “GADGETS & GIZMOS”

Deadline: OCTOBER 15, 2012 

Gadget/gizmo: A small device with a practical use, but often thought of as a novelty. What’s yours? A can opener, iPad, Swiss Army knife, e-reader, Slice-o-matic? Whatever it is or its role, the item(s) must be mentioned in the story. Make your story come alive with sharp characterization, vivid imagery and artistic use of language. Winners will not be separated into categories, but entries will be compared to others within their respective genres for judging purposes. Neatness and manuscript presentation count. 

Word Count: Up to 3,000 words.

Form:
All types of fiction (including genre) accepted: this includes general audience/mainstream; magical realism; science fiction, fantasy, light horror, mystery, romance, or cross-genres thereof; young adult and juvenile. NO picture books. NO explicit sexual content, excessive profanity, gory violence and/or extreme horror, please.

Entry forms/fees:
No entry form required. Entry fees: Calliope member/subscribers—$5 first entry; second entry free; $3 for each additional entry. (Write “Member” on upper right corner of title sheet.) Non-members: $10 first entry; $5 for each additional story. Maximum: five stories per entrant. Membership special: Send $20 and receive a one-year subscription to Calliope (4 issues) and one free entry. Make checks or money orders (in U.S. Funds only) payable to: Writers' SIG. (We will also accept fees in mint, U.S. stamps in lieu of checks or money orders.) To make payment via PayPal, go to www.paypal.com, click on “send money,” and enter Cynthia@theriver.com when asked “which vendor.”

How to Submit/Format:
Entries accepted from June 15 to October 15, 2012, and must come by regular mail. No other method will be accepted. Use standard manuscript format: 1” margins, double-space for stories more than 500 words. Name, address, phone number, e-mail address, word count, and title of story should be on a separate cover sheet, stapled to the manuscript in upper left corner. Print only title and page numbers on manuscript. State “End” below last sentence of story.
Work must be original—no reprints. Winners must retain sufficient rights for publication in the Winter 2012/13 issue of Calliope, or their entries will be disqualified. 

Prizes:
Although final determination depends upon the total amount of entry fees received, a minimum $50-1st Place, $25-2nd Place, and $15-3rd Place is the goal.
Gift subscriptions to Calliope will be at the editor’s discretion. All winners and honorable mentions will receive certificates suitable for framing. Other prizes depend on donations received.

Receipt of entry will be acknowledged if an email address or a self-addressed postcard is included; manuscripts will not be returned.
All stories submitted will be considered for future publication.
Include a SASE for the winner’s list, and receive a free mini-critique of your entry.

Notification:
Winners will be notified by mail or email; state preference on cover sheet. Formal announcement will appear in both print and electronic versions of the Winter 2012/13 issue, together with the First through Third Place winning stories. Other winning stories will be published in appropriate subsequent issues. We use one-time rights only.

About The Judging:
Winners will be selected by the Fiction Editor, with comments, opinions and concurrence solicited from other Calliope editors and/or others the Fiction Editor deems appropriate. The decision of the judge will be final; every attempt will be made to render a fair and unbiased decision.

http://www.calliopewriters.org/FictionContestRules.aspx

Mail entries and fees to:
Calliope Fiction Contest
5975 W. Western Way PMB 116Y
Tucson, AZ 85713

DAKentner is an author and journalist www.kevad.net