Donna Collins' Blog

This weeks competitions that have caught my eye:

FICTION: Via First Writer

Elizabeth Simpson Smith Short Story Competition 
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   15th May 2012
Fees:   $20 for one entry. $15 for members.
Prizes:   $0 for first place. Apple iPad; $200; $100.
Details:   For short stories between 1,500 and 4,000 words.
Contact:   Elizabeth Simpson Smith Contest, Charlotte Writers’ Club, P.O. Box 220954, Charlotte, NC 28222
Country:   United States
Email:   contests@charlottewritersclub.org
Website:   http://www.charlottewritersclub.org/ess_short_story

Eighth International Short Story Contest 
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   1st April 2012
Fees:   Ł6.50 for one entry. ($9.75). Two for $8.63 / Ł5.75 each; three for $7.50 / Ł5.00 each; or five for $6.00 / Ł4.00 each.
Prizes:   Ł200 for first place. Also magazine publication and vouchers for subscription for the winner and ten Special Commendations.
Details:   For short stories up to 3,000 words. Enter online at http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/short_story_contest/
Country:   United Kingdom; United States; Ireland; Canada; Australia – submissions accepted from anywhere!
Email:   support@firstwriter.com
Website:   http://www.firstwriter.com/competitions/short_story_contest/

Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   15th May 2012
Fees:   $15 for one entry. $20 if submitted after May 1, 2012.
Prizes:   $1,500 for first place. $500 x 2. Also publication.
Details:   For short stories up to 3,500 words.
Contact:   The Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition, P.O. Box 993, Key West, FL 33041
Country:   United States
Email:   shortstorykw@gmail.com
Website:   http://www.shortstorycompetition.com/Guidelines.php

Mad as a Hare
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   31st March 2012
Fees:   $0 for one entry.
Prizes:   $50 for first place. $25 second prize
Details:   Enter your fiction or non-fiction of up to 2500 words about personified animals. Free sign-up –a friendly, knowledgeable, and intensive online critique community for writers and poets–is necessary in order to post your entry. E-mail entries will not be accepted. See our website for full rules and guidelines.
Country:   United States
Website:   http://www.scribophile.com/contests/mad-as-a-hare-contest/

Sunpenny Young Writers Competition
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   31st March 2012
Fees:   £3 for one entry.
Prizes:   £50 for first place. £25.
Details:   For short stories up to 3,000 words by young writers up to 14.
Contact:   10 Aspen Close, Harriseahead, Staffordshire ST7 4HD
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   writers@sunpenny.com
Website:   http://www.sunpenny.com/competitions/2011/youngwriters2011.html

Segora Short Story 
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   31st May 2012
Fees:   £5.50 for one entry. £10.50 for 2.
Prizes:   £150 for first place. £50 and £30.
Details:   1,500 – 3,000 words Judge: winner of the inaugural competition in 2008 now has his first novel placed with an agent. The winning entry will be read at the first bilingual LitFest to take place in our village in SW france.
Contact:   Gordon Simms Le Moulin de Larche St Clementin 79150 Deux-Sevres France
Country:   France
Website:   http://www.poetryproseandplays.co.uk

American Short(er) Fiction Prize
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   1st May 2012
Fees:   $15 for one entry.
Prizes:   $500 for first place. $250. Also publication.
Details:   For short fiction up to 1,000 words.
Country:   United States
Email:   editors@americanshortfiction.org
Website:   http://www.americanshortfiction.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18-short-shorts&cat

First Page Competition 2012
Category:   Fiction
Closes:   8th June 2012
Fees:   £6 for one entry. £10 for two.
Prizes:   £500 for first place. 2nd £100 and 3rd £50.
Details:   What are we looking for: the most gripping, read-on-able first page of up to 400 words. Any genre, but as always we’re looking for The Best First Page.
Contact:   2 Malt Kiln Road, Newbiggin, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 0TU
Country:   United Kingdom
Email:   editor@wordswithjam.co.uk
Website:   http://www.wordswithjam.co.uk/firstpagecompetition2012

ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA Via RWA

 *Open to published authors
**Open to published and unpublished authors

*2012 Published Maggie Award Contest
Georgia Romance Writers
Fee: $20.00
Deadline: May 1, 2012
Entry: novel-length romances with 2011 copyright.
Judges: Booksellers/Librarians.
FMI, visit http://www.georgiaromancewriters.org/the-maggies/.

**2012 Tara Contest
Sponsor: Tampa Area Romance Authors
Fee: $25.00 (Pay Pal accepted)
Electronic Deadline: May 1, 2012
Eligibility requirements: The TARA Contest is open to unpublished and published authors of novel-length fiction. The entry must be the author’s original work, unpublished and uncontracted as of the time of the contest deadline. No entry can have been previously published in any format. (on author’s website visible to the public, self-published, ebook, mass market, etc.)
Entry: All electronic. The first chapter, 4,000 words max (actual word count), including prologue, if applicable. *Word count will be verified. No part of a second or any additional chapters will be judged. End your entry on a hook, leaving your judges breathless with no more pages left to turn. If an entry finals, a synopsis of no more than 1,500 words is required to move on to the final round.
Judges: trained/experienced, published
Categories/Final Judges: Series Contemporary, Brenda Chin, Harlequin; Historical, Leah Hultenschmidt, Sourcebooks; Paranormal, Elizabeth Bistrow, New American Library; Single Title, Sue Grimshaw, Random House; Women’s Fiction, Lauren Plude, Grand Central; Romantic Suspense, Emilia Pisani, Pocket Books; Inspirational, Natalie Hanemann, Thomas Nelson
Top prize: TARA sterling silver pendant & certificate
FMI, http://www.tararwa.com or email Taracontest@gmail.com.

SCRIPT WRITING OPPORTUNITIES Via ISA:

ALCHEMY FILMWORKS SEEKS SCREENWRITER FOR DOCUMENTARY
Would you be outraged if your physician or health care provider intentionally failed to notify you that you had a terminal illness for four years? It is public record the medical professional did exactly that at the beginning of the AIDS pandemic. In the early 1980’s, 114 neonates, and an unknown number of adults, were given HIV infected transfusions at a major LA hospital. The problem first surfaced in 1983, but records clearly show notification to any of the families of those afflicted was deliberately withheld until 1987. I would like to team up with a skilled documentary filmmaker or writer to create an amazing film. Please write me, Alex Ghaffari, at ghaffari10@yahoo.com.

DIRECTOR SEEKS SCRIPTS FOR ENGLAND-BASED TELEVISION DRAMA
I’m currently looking for television scripts for television drama, in a similar vein as “The Shadow Line” and “Luther”. I’m interested in working with a writer who is willing to work on spec (as I will be) in order to get a project commissioned on a U.K based network. Initially I am interested in producing a 6 part mini series which can either be self-contained (as per “The Shadow Line”) or something with the potential to return with its characters for further episodes. I would be aiming at a post watershed audience for the 9pm – 10pm slot. It would need to be set in modern England day to keep production costs down. Whilst I cannot fund the development, I am happy to negotiate a deal that would see that would see the writer getting a fee that would reflect their period of speculation. Please do not submit whole scripts. Please send a short synopsis or the first 10 pages of a script. I may request the whole script if I feel yours is what I’m looking for. Please email tv@clockworkamoeba.com. For those of you interested in my background, I am a filmmaker that has been largely involved in creating productions which deliver far beyond the limits of their resources. In recent times I’ve built a reputation as a music video director but have worked on a range of film and television productions, in a number of cases as producer/director and have worked on feature script development with other producers.

SHORT SCRIPTS WANTED (CANADIAN WRITERS ONLY)
I am a established Montreal cinematographer/director with over 25 years experience looking to director my next short.  All genres are welcome. Script should be between 5 – 7 pages. For funding purposes, the writer must be Canadian. There is no financial compensation, but you will get sole writing credit. Please send a copy of your script to my assistant, Patrick Greatbatch, at greatbatchmtl@gmail.com.

SEEKING SITCOM WRITER WITH SALES AND CREDITS 
Shambala Entertainment is seeking collaborator to develop sitcom pilot that will be pitched and probably shot. Funny pros (with sitcom credits on IMDB) who know the sitcom craft needed. If we sell, appropriate writing rates will prevail. You must live in Hollywood area and have two to three days/nights available. Please send your experience and appropriate writing sample(s) to Todd Regenbogen at shambalaent@gmail.com. Thank you.

SEEKING LOW BUDGET FEATURE LENGTH  SCI-FI  SCREENPLAYS
Seeking low budget feature length sci-fi screenplays. Please send log-line only at this time. Send to praterpix@gmail.com. Visit producer Matt Prater’s IMDB Profile at http://pro.imdb.com/name/nm1056990/.

PERFORMANCE GROUP SEEKS SHORT FILM SCRIPTS 
Eurisko Performance Group (EPG) is seeking film script submissions of five to seven minutes in length. EPG is committed to producing a short film this fall as part of our “Pass it On” Project. Writers will be involved in all aspects of pre-production and filming. Our topic for this year is “Wrestling with False Gods.” It is at the writer’s discretion how to interpret this theme. EPG is committed to producing challenging and thought-provoking films. We value collaboration and passionate vision. Interested screen writers should submit scripts to Managing Director Michael Davis at euriskoperformancegroup@gmail.com for review. We look forward to reading all scripts that are submitted, and thank you for your interest in working with our company.

LOOKING FOR COMEDIC WRITER FOR COLLABORATION
Looking for a comedic writer to collaborate with on short films and webisodes. We are a small production company anxious to focus more on comedic content. Please send a copy of something recent you have written to us at redefiningfilms@gmail.com. This is not a paid gig. Thank you.

CAT AND WEASEL FILMS SEEKS SCREENPLAYS 
CAT AND WEASEL FILMS is looking for new scripts! We will option scripts to develop and produce in 2013. Scripts should be: 1.) Feature length 2.) Written for low-budget (minimal SFX, contemporary) 3.) At least in their 2nd draft 4.) Set in Europe 5.) Intelligent. We are open to ALL GENRES. Please include: 1.) A short bio of yourself. 2.) The script. 3.) A logline. And, optionally 4.) Anything you would like to add. Send to film@catandweasel.com. Thanks! Please let us know if you have any questions!

PRODUCTION CO. SEEKS ROM-COM &/OR DRAMA SCREENPLAYS
We are a media production company in Atlanta looking for completed feature length, high-concept scripts to produce. We are placing emphasis on ROMANTIC COMEDY AND/OR DRAMA. The ideal concept will have minimal locations and cast, a unique non-traditional storyline with a short but strong hook in the logline. Pay to be determined. Please NO ACTION, THRILLER, SCI-FI, ETC. Thank you for your submission. INSTRUCTIONS to SUBMIT: We pay attention to professional, carefully proof-read queries. *PLEASE READ CAREFULLY* (1) In SUBJECT line put ‘LOGLINE/QUERY’ – [TITLE]’ (2)Cut and Paste QUERY LETTER or SYNOPSIS ONLY into body of email at: SCRIPTS @WILDHUNDREDS.COM (3) Attach FULL script. Partial scripts are accepted however, decisions can only be made from reading the ENTIRE screenplay. Thank you.

WRITING CLASSES AND CONFERENCES

The Writer’s Workshop – How to Write a Novel Course
This course is designed for new writers who want to write a novel. You need absolutely no prior experience – just bring your imagination!
Starts: 24th March, 2012
Tutor: Your course tutor will be Jessica Ruston (left). Jessica is the prize-winning and bestselling author of Luxury and To Touch the Stars. She’s also a very experienced writing tutor and editor and loves working with first time writers.

Desert Dreams Writing Conference
Desert Dreams Writers’ Conference provides authors of all skill levels – from beginner to multi-published – with the tools necessary to take their writing to the next level. Sessions will include general writing, career development, genre-specific, agent/publisher spotlights, as well as an agent/editor panel. There will also be one-on-one appointments with editors or agents, a book signing, and keynote addresses. Check out our roster of acquiring editors and agents along with our keynote speakers and workshops.
Date: April 27th-29th, 2012

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