Donna Collins' Blog

Five Stop Story
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   30th November 2011
Fees:   £0 for one entry.
Prizes:   £0 for first place. Book of Short Stories; Publication on iPhone and iPad app.
Details:   Winners published on iPhone and iPad app, as well as our website, free entry, 1,000 – 2,000 words, open to international entrants aged 16 and over.
Country:   United Kingdom
Website:   http://www.fivestopstory.com

Onward Writing SS/Poetry Competition
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   1st April 2012
Fees:   £3 for one entry. £5 two entries £9 four.
Prizes:   £50 for first place. 2nd prize £30, third £20.
Details:   Short stories up to 1400 words, poems up to 40 lines. To raise funds, through sale of anthology, to try to save the Theatre. Any subject. Anthology free to winners and critiques. Judges professors from creative writing Salford University. All can be checked on relevant webs including charity details.
Contact:   412 Mottram Rd, Hyde, Cheshire SK14 3BP
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   nicholsbm@nicholsbm.plus.com
Website:   http://www.onwardwriting.co.uk

The Scribophile NaNoWriMo ’11 Contest
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   30th November 2011
Fees:   $0 for one entry. Free for all members.
Prizes:   $50 for first place. $50 cash via Paypal for 1st place; $25 cash via Paypal for 2nd place.
Details:   With NaNoWriMo 2011 well under way, we thought we’d put together a contest to showcase some of that great writing. To enter our NaNoWriMo ’11 contest, submit the first chapter of your NaNoWriMo ’11 novel. We’ll pick the best entries. First place wins $50 cash, 2nd place wins $25 cash. Entry is free and the deadline is November 30, 2011. It’s a great way to take the novel you’re writing to a bigger audience!
Country:   United States
Website:   http://www.scribophile.com/contests/

The New Writer Short Story Prize
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   30th November 2011
Fees:   £5 for one entry. Subscribers may enter two for the price of one.
Prizes:   £300 for first place. £200; £100.
Details:   For short stories between 500 and 5,000 words.
Contact:   The New Writer PO Box 60 Cranbrook Kent TN17 2ZR
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   editor@thenewwriter.com
Website:   http://www.thenewwriter.com/prizes.htm

H.E. Francis Contest
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   31st December 2011
Fees:   $15 for one entry.
Prizes:   $1,000 for first place.
Details:   For short stories up to 5,000 words.
Contact:   Department of English, Morton Hall 222, H.E. Francis Contest, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899
Country:   United States
Website:   http://www.uah.edu/colleges/liberal/english/hefranciscontest/

Blue Mesa Review 2012 Fiction Contest
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   31st December 2011
Fees:   $17 for one entry.
Prizes:   $1,000 for first place. Also magazine publication.
Details:   For short fiction up to 7,000 words. Submit online.
Country:   United States
Website:   http://www.unm.edu/~bluemesa/fiction%20contest.htm

Fantasy Short Story
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   25th November 2011
Fees:   $0 for one entry.
Prizes:   $20 for first place. Publication in our magazine.
Details:   Up to 6000 words of your most epic fantasy or medieval fiction. We need tales of adventure that leave the audience begging for more. Along with a great story, great grammar and puncuation are a must.
Country:   United States
Email:   adam@tavernsvault.com
Website:   http://www.tavernsvault.com

H.E.Bates Short Story Competition
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   1st December 2011
Fees:   £4 for one entry. £1 for Under 18 entries
Prizes:   £150 for first place. 2nd £100; 3rd £50; Under 18 £50
Details:   Long established short story competition based in Northamptonshire, UK, are invited to submit a short story on any theme, with a maximum of 2000 words. Submit by post or e-mail – in the latter case we will invoice you via PayPal.
Contact:   Nick Hamlyn,19 Kingswell Road, Northampton NN2 6QB,UK
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   hebatescomp@gmail.com
Website:   http://www.hebatescompetition.org.uk

Use your Character to Win a Kindle
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   16th November 2011
Fees:   £0 for one entry.
Prizes:   £0 for first place. Kindle, Character Art, Editing and More
Details:   Provide details of a character from a novel you are writing and how they would cope in a battle against: a) A Gremlin b) A Gladiator c) Darth Vader d) Voldemort e) The Balrog.
Contact:7 Pickhill Road, Leicester, LE5 1NX
Country:   United Kingdom
Website:   http://www.imranwrites.com/2011/11/02/character-competition/

Short Fiction Comp. for Emerging Writers
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   31st December 2011
Fees:   $15 for one entry.
Prizes:   $1,500 for first place.
Details:   For short stories up to 8,000 words.
Contact:   Boulevard Emerging Writers Contest, PMB 325, 6614 Clayton Road, Richmond Heights, MO 63117
Country:   United States
Website:   http://www.boulevardmagazine.org/partners.html

Writersbillboard Flash Fiction 
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   27th December 2011
Fees:   £2.50 for one entry.
Prizes:   £0 for first place. Prize is publication on the website
Details:   Short stories of fewer than 400 words, any theme
Country:   United Kingdom
Website:   http://www.writersbillboard.net

ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA:

2012 New England Reader’s Choice Bean Pot Award
Sponsor: New England Chapter RWA
Fee: $25.00
Deadline: January 23, 2012 (postmarked)
Entry: romance novels published in 2011. E-books eligible in electronic version only if not in print.
Categories: Novella, SC, LC, RS, historical, erotic, F&P/TT, Mainstream w/Romantic Elements, Inspirational, and YA.
Judges: readers, booksellers, librarians.
Top Prize each category: $50, certificate, engraved Bean Pot.
For More Information: Send SASE to Christina James, 13 Poole Street, Medford, MA, 02155; 781-874-0771,
Email:   vharris94@comcast.net,
Websie:   www.necrwa.org.

SCRIPT WRITING OPPORTUNITIES Via ISA

EDITOR AND WRITER NEEDED FOR REWRITE
We need Editor(s) for a short video ASAP. This is a feature film will be shot next year. This video is for our future sponsors. At the mean time, we are rewriting the whole script to fit in different budget and prepare to show it to our future sponsors so we hope that we can find a really good writer(You don’t need have to be WGA member) who is a reliable person to join us to rewrite the whole script. This is a no-pay project until now. But you will def get the credit about what you did.
Check out our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Endless-Night/227758423937617
 Apply to: Monique Sowinski, endlessnight2011@yahoo.com, moniquesowinski@yahoo.com

LO/NO BUDGET SCRIPTS WANTED
Film Colchester is an independent network of filmmakers. We’ve recently started a new event which involves filmmakers meeting up on the last Sunday of each month to shoot a film. For the event we’re interested in low/no budget short film scripts (approx 1-5 pages) which can be shot at the event using local locations and resources. Theres no payment but this could be a great opportunity to see your work made into a film and of course as writer you’ll receive a full writer’s credit. The scripts will be used on a non-exclusive basis so you will retain full rights to your script in case you wish to re-film it in the future. We will only read scripts that are properly formatted and approx 1-5 pages.
Please also include the following details
+ Your Name
+ Your Email Address
+ Script Title
+ Script Length (Page numbers)
+ Number of Characters
+ Number of Locations
+ Genre
+ Logline (1-2 lines)
+ Summary (Short Paragraph)
+ Script (please attach the script in a suitable format)
By submitting the script you are notifing us you’re happy for it to be made.
We’ve previously had large numbers of replies so we’ll only be in contact if your script is chosen.
This is an ongoing event so feel free to keep submitting scripts to us.
Thanks,
Gary
(k.kittle@tiscali.co.uk)
More Info: http://www.filmcolchester.info/

TWELVE SCRIPTS WANTED – VARIED GENRES
Magic Elevator is producing 12 unique stories in 2012. We are open to collaborate with talented and experienced screenwriters having their scripts ready for low budget production. We are interested only in horror, comedy, thriller, action, adventure, smart drama and crime. No docs, westerns, sci-fi, faith based films, shorts, web series or TV pilots. PLEASE ONLY SUBMIT: Logline, one page synopsis and character breakdown. Please do NOT send full script. We will only request full script if we’re interested in pursuing further.
Our past successful films: www.MagicElevator.com
IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/company/co0339493/
You can also submit directly to MagicElevatorScripts@gmail.com
We’re very excited to make around 100 dreams come true in 2012.
The 100 most talented independent filmmakers, actors, writers, , cinematographers and directors will unite their energy to create 12 unique, edgy and powerful movies. We will prove once again the magic formula to make unforgettable films is the teamwork of dedicated people combined with a meaningful story, not big studio budgets.
The Los Angeles premiere of our latest action, adventure film “Jaguar” is on December 11th, 2011 in New Beverly Cinemas.

CHRISTMAS SCRIPTS WANTED (Features Or MOW)
TMG is looking for completed feature-length Christmas scripts with stories that are suitable for television (MOW).  Please note that we need material which will garner a probable MPAA rating of PG, so please do not submit anything with foul language, violence, sex, etc.  Budget will not exceed $2 million.  WGA and non-WGA writers may submit.  Our credits include “Pursuit of Happiness” (2002), “Three Days (of Hamlet)” (2011) and we are in active development on “Anniversary.”
TO SUBMIT:
1. Please go to www.InkTippro.com/leads
2. Enter your email address (you will be signing up for InkTip’s newsletter – FREE!)
3. Copy/Paste this code: 7vs930ned2
4. You will be submitting a logline and synopsis only.
IMPORTANT:  Please ONLY submit your work if it fits what the lead is looking for EXACTLY.

PRODUCER SEEKS HIGH CONCEPT THRILLER SCRIPTS
Cubix International is partnered with a well-known Hollywood producer to produce a slate of Thriller movies. Please drop Leroy an e-mail with your tagline, synopsis and character breakdown of your High Concept Thriller scripts. Not paid. Fees will paid when the scripts has been produced. Leroy Yeong – leroy@cubix.ws More info: www.cubix.ws

SEEKING FEATURE-LENGTH HORROR SCRIPT: LOW-BUDGET
Needed Feature-Length Horror Script: Low-Budget film to be shot aboard a U.S. Battleship. Hater Free Productions / Dear Skyyler Productions have partnered with the Haunted Ship at the U.S.S. Salem to create three feature-length films. http://www.hauntedship.com, http://www.jackskyyler.com, http://www.haterfreeproductions.com.
In preparation for the feature Hater Free Productions / Dear Skyyler Productions filmed a no-budget short film as a promo this has been posted on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLro7U5LSww
This will give you a feel for the location. All three films will be filmed primarily on board the U.S.S. Salem. The ship has been featured on several national TV Shows (such as Ghost Hunters) as a site of unusual paranormal activity. The film will be building on that mystique with the sequence of three horror films. These films could be any genera of horror: supernatural, vampire, zombie, monster, sci-fi, psycho… These three films will be independent! We are looking for appropriate script(s) either: one stand alone or possibly a trilogy of scripts. Currently Hater Free Productions / Dear Skyyler Productions are looking for funding for the film(s); therefore our budget is uncertain, but we are looking for approximately $100,000. The script would have to be producible on a budget of that scale.The author of the script would probably receive be about 3% of the budget ($3,000). Though the final sum could be more or less given how much we like the script / how much work we need to do on the script to make it fit our needs. We are not looking for an author to write a script on commission. We are looking for an already existing script that can be manipulated to fit our needs. The author needs not do this manipulation.
For more information and for any script(s) that may fit, please submit a summary and your contact information: Submit to: Dear Skyyler Productions: me@jackskyyler.com

NICKTOONS SEEKING WRITER/PRODUCER – NYC BASED
Nicktoons; Nickelodeon’s “boy focused” network is looking for a wildly creative Writer/Producer for our Brand Creative group based in New York City. The job is all about conceiving, writing and creatively executing on-air promo assignments for the Brand Creative Group.
Responsibilities:
The job requires the ability to conceptualize, present, and execute creative solutions for all brand creative assignments. Ideal candidates will need to be experienced in screening footage, writing copy, supervising the editorial process, implementing and initiating graphic solutions when needed, selecting music, directing voice-talent and supervising the mixing process.
This role also requires working closely with other creative team members, project managers, and any other departments that do business with the Brand Creative group.
Requirements:
~ Minimum 3-4 years on-air promotion experience.
~ Strong writing and concepting skills are a must.
~ The ability to multi-task and manage several projects at once.
~ Must have good knowledge of both the video and audio post-production process.
~ Must be able to brainstorm and develop clip based, graphic based and shoot based creative.
~ Must be able to do hard-hitting trailers and hilarious spots in equal measure.
~ Positive attitude.
Please apply via our web page at: http://tbe.taleo.net/NA5/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=MTVNETWORKS&cws=1&rid=2149

SEEKING SCRIPTWRITER FOR NEWS/WEB/SHORT
Are you an experienced scriptwriter with news, web video, or short story experience? Are you looking for something to do freelance in your spare time? At The Blue Ocean (a division of Thomas Reprographics), our goal is to take life-changing philosophies and cutting edge filmmaking to the corporate world. We are looking for people who can take a stack of half written scripts and refine them for production. We are looking for someone who can inject humor and creativity into otherwise boring topics like customer service, leadership, and sales.
Please send a sample of your work to demoreel@thomasrepro.com. More Info: http://theblueocean.tv/
Required Skills:
Newsroom, Web Video, or Short Story experience
Excellent grammar/spelling/syntax ability
Passion for improving peoples lives
Creativity and sense of humor
Recommended but not required :
Live in the Dallas/Ft Worth area
Ability to work with clients and direct talent
Bilingual

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Linkedin