Donna Collins' Blog

This weeks competitions that have caught my eye:

FICTION: Via First Writer

Narrative Magazine Winter Story Contest
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   31st March 2012
Fees:   $20 for one entry.
Prizes:   $2,500 for first place. 1,000; $500; $100 x 10.
Details:   For unpublished fiction and nonfiction up to 15,000 words.
Country:   United States
Website:   http://www.narrativemagazine.com/node/163488

Hungry Hill Short Short Story
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   6th April 2012
Fees:   €5 for one entry. €3 for young writers
Prizes:   €150 for first place. Additional prizes for young writers.
Details:   A competition for short short stories (500 words maximum) on any theme. There is also an unthemed competition for under-18s, and a themed competition, The River, for under-14s.
Country:   Ireland
Website:   http://www.hungryhillwriting.com

Kelpies Prize 2012
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   29th February 2012
Fees:   £0 for one entry.
Prizes:   £2,000 for first place. Also book publication.
Details:   For children’s novels, set in Scotland, between 40,000 and 70,000 words.
Contact:  Kelpies Prize 2012, Floris Books, 15 Harrison Gardens, Edinburgh EH11 1SH
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   floris@florisbooks.co.uk
Website:   http://www.florisbooks.co.uk/kelpiesprize/enter.html

Gemini Magazine Short Story Contest
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   31st March 2012
Fees:   $4 for one entry.
Prizes:   $1,000 for first place. $100.
Details:   For stories of any genre, style, or length.
Contact:   Gemini Magazine, Short Story Contest, P.O. Box 1485, Onset, MA 02558
Country:   United States
Email:   contest@gemini-magazine.com
Website:   http://www.gemini-magazine.com/contest.html

Writers & Artists Competition
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   14th February 2012
Fees:  £0 for one entry.
Prizes:   £0 for first place. Residential writing course.
Details:   For short stories up to 2,000 words on the theme: Identity.
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   shortstorycompetition@bloomsbury.com
Website:   http://www.writersandartists.co.uk/writers/advice/stage2/competitions

Children’s Story for 5-8 year olds
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   31st August 2012
Fees:   £5 for one entry.
Prizes:   £100 for first place. Plus small paperback publication.
Details:   Write a story for 5- 8 year olds up to 5000 words – any theme First prize £100 plus small paperback publication, 2nd prize £50 plus website publications, 3rd prize £25 plus website publication.
Contact:   Competition secretary 18 Hillside Road Blidworth Notts., NG21 0TR
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   thynkspublications@yahoo.co.uk
Website:   http://www.thynkspublications.co.uk/competitions

Willow Springs Fiction Prize
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   15th March 2012
Fees:   $15 for one entry. $20 for international entries.
Prizes:   $2,000 for first place. Also publication.
Details:   For short fiction of any length.
Contact:   The Willow Springs Fiction Prize, Willow Springs, 501 N Riverpoint Blvd, Ste 425, Spokane, WA 99202
Country:   United States
Website:   http://willowsprings.ewu.edu/contests.php

SCRIPTS

Windsor Fringe Kenneth Branagh Award
Category:   Scripts
Closes:   5th March 2012
Fees:   £5 for one entry.
Prizes:   £500 for first place.
Details:   For plays up to 30 minutes long, with a cast of no more than six.
Contact:   The Windsor Fringe Drama Writing Award, Suite 640, 24-28 St Leonard’s Road, Windsor, Berks. SL4 3BB
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   ann.trewartha@btinternet.com
Website:   http://www.windsorfringe.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=5&Itemid=14

ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA Via RWA

*012 Touched By Love Award
Sponsor: Faith, Hope, and Love RWA Chapter
Fee: $20–25.00
Deadline: April 1, 2012, Midnight EST
Eligibility: Unpublished authors or authors not published in the last 3 years.
Entry: Electronic entry only. First 30 pages of an inspirational manuscript, 2-page synopsis.
Final Round Judges: Published Authors.
Top Prize: Overall winner gets an editor critique.
FMI, http://www.faithhopelove-rwa.org or email RileyK1@aol.com.

2012 Royal Ascot
Sponsor: The Beau Monde
Fee: $25 for Beau Monde Members for the first entry; $30 for Non Beau Monde Members for the first entry; $20 for subsequent entries. Multiple submissions welcome provided separate entry form and fee accompanies each.
Deadline: Friday April 6, 2012, midnight PDT: Deadline for all parts of entry.
Eligibility: Open to unpublished authors and authors who have not been contracted in book-length fiction by RWA PAN definition in the last 5 years. All entries must have at least partial Regency (Late Georgian) setting, broadly defined: within the United Kingdom between 1780 and 1840.
Entry: Entry length limited to 7,000 words (determined by computer word count).
Categories: Categories will only be used for first round judging. Six finalists will be determined based on highest score. Categories are: Regency Historical (longer Regency or Mainstream Regency-set); Hot Regency (Very sensual to Erotic Regency, at author’s discretion); Wild Regency (Paranormal, Time Travel, other similar Regency); Sweet & Mild Regency (Traditional, Inspirational, Young Adult or other without explicit sex)
Judges: Three trained first round judges, including at least one published author. Lowest score dropped.
Final Judges: A panel of agents and editors TBA.
Top Prize: $100 Grand Prize and a certificate.
FMI, email royalascotcontest@gmail.com or visit http://main.thebeaumonde.com.

SCRIPT WRITING OPPORTUNITIES Via ISA:

ESTABLISHED DIRECTOR SEEKS LOW-BUGET FEATURE SCRIPT
I’m an experienced feature director in Los Angeles looking for an excellent  limited location script with limited cast that can be produced for under 500k.  I appreciate dark, strange and original material although smart comedies are fine too; please no sci-fi or romantic comedy.  Please send loglines, synopsis and query to Chris Iovenko at trickpictures@gmail.com. Pay to be determined.

SEEKING SPEC SCRIPTS FOR THE KEYSTROKE KILLER
OTLP is currently developing the television series THE KEYSTROKE KILLER based from the original short film by the same name.  After the short film became an instant cult classic receiving 1 million hits on YouTube, a television network wants it developed.  We currently have written 12 episodes, but need 23 for the first year, then if the series is a success up to 63 scripts.  These are one hour episodes.  If your spec script is used, you will be paid according to industry standards.  To write a spec script for KSK it must be based on our characters and storyline.  Please visit www.onthelotproductions.com for the character breakdown. Send inquiries to Carol Michaels at drcarolmichaels@gmail.com. Thank you.

SEEKING SCRIPTS FOR SHORT FEATURING LAWYER CHARACTER
We have a unique opportunity to produce a short film for upcoming high profile festivals. There is NO budget and VERY limited time to film, the script needs to take that into account. Limited characters and locations covering a legal subject or with a lawyer as a main character only. Any genre except horror. Please stay away from murder mysteries or “Law and Order” type scripts – they are overdone and populate this specific festival – think outside the box.  This film is for credit only as it’s a pet project strictly for a short festival run – so if you have 8-12 pages that fit the bill, want to see your work produced, and have you name in the credits as writer submit asap. Please put “law short script submission” in the subject line and send a logline and example. If it is something we think we can work with we will request a script. Also tell us a bit about yourself. PLEASE don’t submit until your script is a final draft. We’ll be accepting screenplays till Sunday, February 26th. Writers may be considered for future gigs. We have a full slate coming up the next year and work with award winning writers. Entries and query letters will not be accepted after the 26th unless specifically posted per project. Send to Ron Smith at info@2hfc.com.

COMEDY ACTRESS SEEKS WRITERS FOR SKETCH SHOW PILOT
I am a comedy actress and I am producing a sketch show pilot. My intention is to get it picked up by one of the big TV comedy production companies. I have some great contacts in the industry, but a fully polished pilot is expected of me if I want to be taken seriously. My inspiration is ‘Smack The Pony’, ‘Little Britain and the traditional sketch show formats from back in the day, such as Tracey Ullman, French & Saunders etc. I am looking for very varied character material and therefore would most likely end up working with multiple writers. I have some extremely talented and experienced actors to bring this pilot to life so at the very least you would walk away with some great showreel pieces of the comedy sketches you have written. This pilot is unfortunately unpaid at this stage but should negotiations arise with a big production company or broadcaster then a fair contract based on equity standards would be worked out. If this is something that you would like to be a part of then please can you email me some examples of your work. I would like to receive 2 contrasting sketches using any character types you like, preferably with a female character in both of the sketches. My email is melissahartzel@live.com. For your reference my acting work can be seen on my website www.melissahartzel.co.uk. It would be great to hear from you, I can’t wait to read your material! More Info: http://www.melissahartzel.co.uk.

LOOKING FOR TREATMENT OF FOUND FOOTAGE HORROR FILM This is a paid position for an up-and-coming screenwriter with some writing experience. If you have optioned screenplays before please let us know. We are looking to get a draft of a fully-developed treatment for a “found footage” horror film. Think “Repulsion” meets “Paranormal Activity”. Salary: $2,000 We would like to see two writing samples of features and/or short films. Please email: info@magnetfilmworks.com. More Info: http://magnetfilmworks.com. Thank you.

SEEKING LOVE STORY SCRIPT FOR FEATURE FILM PRODUCTION
Dominic Perez is looking for love. Or should I say, I’m looking for a love story to produce into a feature film. If you’ve written a screenplay about love and relationships email me your synopsis to: domster2@gmail.com. This is a paying gig, but this project will be low-budget. Think Mumblecore or Dogma 95. My main focus will be on acting, character and relationships. More info at http://www.evilthingsmovie.com. Thank you.

LOOKING FOR SHORT FILM SCRIPTS
I’m looking for a writer (or a couple of writers) to work with me to produce short films of 2 -15 minutes in duration. These films are mainly to build my portfolio (and yours) from script to screen. I have all kit for all these productions and have production contacts. I’m looking for a script of 1-2 characters set in a couple of locations, or one location. This needs to be filmed in London. More Info: http://www.jgrayonline.com. Apply to: James Ian Gray, info@jgrayonline.com. Thank you.

SEEKING WRITERS FOR VARIOUS FILM GENRES
MAKS Entertainment (New Dehli, India) is seeking script writers/content writers with good command of English. 0-1 year experience for documentaries, corporate films, short films, TVC & AD films. Send inquiries to: info@maksentertainment.in. Thank you.

PRODUCER SEEKS COMEDY OR HORROR SCRIPT
I am a Spanish producer working temporarily in NY and I am looking for a script. Genre: comedy or horror. Pay to be determined. Send your logline and full synopsis to producing2012@gmail.com. Thank you.

Please remember to check out legitimacy of all contests before you enter, and to copyright all your work.

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

If you want more of me, you can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Linkedin