AWW Contest Rules & Entry Info

Guidelines for the AWW "Good Read" Fiction Book Competition

We are more interested in a good story well told than in attempts to sound literary or poetic. Send us your best, simplest work. Make us love or hate your characters by what you let them do and say. Get us involved in the plot by moving us skillfully from point A to point B.

This is a fiction contest. Memoirs, biographies, and other nonfiction are not eligible for this competition.

AWW is a resource for creative women. We want to encourage work by, for and about women, but stories about men will not be overlooked. Just be sure that your viewpoint rings true and the experiences you portray are authentic to the character and setting. Be natural.

Do not use special script for emphasis. Read rules for the use of italics and do not use italics for simple emphasis. Do not overuse the exclamation point. Books will be judged on objective standards and demerits will be assigned for: word repetition, incorrect grammar and syntax, incorrect punctuation, improper formatting of paragraphs, weak characterizations, contradictory or illogical plot development, unbelievable or inconsistent setting. It will also be judged subjectively by our editors, as nearly as possible to mimic the experience of a new enthusiastic reader who has picked your book off the shelf and is embarking on the adventure of involvement in the world you have created. What stops, bores, or confuses that reader/editor will stop, bore, and confuse a larger audience.

Read the instructions carefully and submit accordingly. Inattention to detail can result in disqualification. The editors of AWW are themselves contest entrants (and occasional winners) and are well acquainted with the frustrations of getting it wrong and kicking oneself for having gotten it wrong. Please, read. For questions, email us at: awomanswrite (at) yahoo.com.

Instructions

Important: Contestants should be 18 or older. Submitting your entry certifies that you are eligible, and that all work submitted is your own. Entry fees are non-refundable and are payable only through PayPal. Judge's decisions are final.

Instructions for submissions to the AWW Book Competition:

1. Reading fee is $25.00 for all submissions; if you want a critique of your work, you must pay an additional $50.00 fee (total of $75.00). Payments must be made via PayPal:

Good Read Fees

Reading/entry fee only--$25 Reading/entry fee and critique--$75

2.YOU MUST SUBMIT ONLY THE FIRST 75 PAGES OF YOUR NOVEL. You must also send a detailed, chapter-by-chapter plot synopsis for the entire novel; the synopsis can be up to two single-spaced pages.

3. You must email your work to the editor as a Microsoft Word document (the file extension should be .doc), font size 12 points, Times New Roman, 1.5 line spacing. (Send emails to editor (a) awomanswrite.com.)

4. All work must have the author's last name at the top left and page numbers on the top right of every page.

5. All work must be accompanied by a one-page cover letter that includes the statement: "I understand and agree to comply with all contest rules and instructions." The letter must also include a brief biography of the author. (The cover letter and chapter-by-chapter synopsis may be separate document files, but the first 75 pages of the novel must be submitted in a single document file.)

6. All submissions should include the author's full name, mailing address, phone number, email address, title of work, and total word count. We will use the email address provided to notify entrants of any extensions or changes and to contact winners at the end of the contest. Please be sure to notify us of any changes in your contact information.

7. Do not include a table of contents.

8. Do not include illustrations.

9. Do not use special fonts.

10. Absolutely no pornography or any material that is intentionally degrading to any group will be accepted. Keep four-letter words to a minimumóour staff is easily embarrassed.

11. Denote a break in action with an extra line break. Do not use lines, asterisks or other special marks.

12. Denote a chapter ending by skipping to the next page and beginning the new chapter at the top of that page.

13. A novel, for purposes of this competition, should be at least 150 pages long, or at least 60,000 words.

14. Entries must be sent no later than November 30 , 2008.

15. Critiques will be sent by email within one month of receipt of work.

16. Prize winner will be informed no later than 30 days from the closing date of the competition.

17. If a book is disqualified because you fail comply with contest guidelines, and you have paid for a critique, the critique fee will be returned.

18. If an entry is considered in the final judging process, you may be asked to submit the complete novel electronically. Judges will advise you if this is the case. (Failure to submit the complete novel on request is grounds for disqualification.)

Good Read Competition Prize

One award of $500.00 will be awarded to the book judged best by our editors. Winner will also receive publishing aids and a letter of commendation.

Editors may at their discretion award an "Honorable Distinction Prize" to include publishing aids and a letter of commendation.

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Note: In the event that fewer than 20 entries are received for this competition, the prize award may be reduced according to fees received.