Wordcraft – Ready, set, write! Contests galore!

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Once again, notices for writing contests fill my inbox. I’m listing these in the order of urgency – some have looming deadlines!

Now – October 14: Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction contest closes this Friday (11:59 p.m. EST). Don’t get caught short! Enter short stories (4,000 words or less) in any of several genres. Grand prize includes cash, a trip to the Writer’s Digest annual conference, and exposure in the May/June 2017 issue of the magazine. Fee: $25 for first story, $20 each for additional stories. Or enter WD’s short short fiction contest (1,500 words or less), with a November 15 deadline. See WD's site for details on both contests.

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Now – October 25: Writers Guild of Texas Flash Fiction Contest. Stories must not be more than 1,000 words, and no less than 300. Cash prizes in first, second, third and honorable mention categories. Winners will also have their work published in the WGT’s 2017 newsletter. Fee: free for WGT members, $25 for nonmembers. See the site for details.

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Now – October 31: Houston Writers Guild Press’s newest contest celebrates diversity and how it strengthens society and/or individuals. Categories include fiction in all genres, nonfiction, and poetry. Fiction and nonfiction entries should be no longer than 5,000 words. Cash prizes for first, second and third place winners in each category, and publication in the HGW Press anthology, “Out of Many One – Celebrating Diversity.” Fee: $15 for first entry by HWG members, $10 for each additional entry (up to three per category); $30 for first entry by nonmembers, $25 for each additional entry (up to three per category). See HWG's site for format and additional information.

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Now – November 15: Carve Magazine’s Premium Edition Contest for fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Winners in each category receive $1,000 and publication in the magazine’s premium print edition. All contestants receive a discount on new subscriptions to the magazine. See site for details.

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Now – January 15, 2017: Writers’ League of Texas Book Awards Contest. This one is open to Texas authors of books published in 2016. Winners in each of five categories receive $1,000 cash, a commemorative award and recognition at the 2017 Texas Book Festival in Austin, Texas. An additional Discovery Prize winner in each category receives $250. Fee: $40 per title for WLT members, $60 for nonmembers, $70 for publishers/agents submitting on behalf of writers. See the WLT site for details.

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October 21 – January 15, 2017: Writers’ League of Texas Manuscript Contest. Previous winners in any of several categories have won recognition at the WLT conference in Austin, Texas, and a complimentary consultation with an agent in their genre. Full details available October 21.

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Now – December 1: Third Annual Book Pipeline Competition for authors with material suitable for film or television adaptation. Entries may include: novels, nonfiction, plays, graphic novels and comics, book proposals or pitches (fiction or nonfiction) and short stories. Grand prize winner receives cash, airfare to Los Angeles for meetings with industry professionals, and exposure to production companies and agencies. Fee: $65. See Book Pipeline for details. The similar Script Pipeline includes details for its screenwriting contest, with a December 31 deadline.

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Upcoming: Moonlight Mesa Associates’ Cowboy Up Contest for western fiction and nonfiction. Entries accepted January 1, 2017, through May 1, 2017. Fee: $25 per entry. In previous years, prizes have included cash and publication in a print anthology, but Moonlight Mesa for upcoming details.