This weeks competitions that have caught my eye:
FICTION: Via First Writer
Jerry Jazz Musician New Short Fiction Competition
Category: Fiction
Closes: 31st May 2012
Fees: $0 for one entry.
Prizes: $100 for first place.
Details: For short stories between 1,000 and 5,000 words that would appeal to a reader with interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theatre, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America.
Country: United States
Email: jm@jerryjazz.com
Website: http://www.jerryjazzmusician.com/mainHTML.cfm?page=fictioncontest.html
Writersbillboard Short Fiction
Category: Fiction
Closes: 27th April 2012
Fees: £2.50 for one entry.
Prizes: £0 for first place. Prize is publication on the website
Details: Short stories, 400-4000 words, any theme.
Country: United Kingdom
Website: http://www.writersbillboard.net
The Stringybark Seven Deadly Sins Award
Category: Fiction
Closes: 10th June 2012
Fees: $9.95 for one entry. Discounts for multiple entires.
Prizes: $350 for first place. A$150/ A$75 plus publication.
Details: Awarded for a short story that relates to one (or more) of the seven deadly sins: lust, gluttony; greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride/vanity. Cordially invites all writers, including our international friends, to put their hand to writing a short story in 1500 words or fewer.
Contact: David Vernon
Country: Australia
Email: judges@stringybarkstories.net
Website: http://www.stringybarkstories.net
Novel Beginnings 1st Chapter Contest
Category: Fiction
Closes: 30th April 2012
Fees: $10 for one entry. Limit 3 entries
Prizes: $150 for first place. Second – $75, third – $50.
Details: Open to all. Open subject (no explicit or gore). Max 6,000 words. Winning entry posted, winner profiled on website. Free critique to first 50 entries. Optional line edit available, $2 per page.
Contact: The Write Helper, 104 Harke Lane, Old Monroe, MO 63369.
Country: United States
Email: amy@thewritehelper.com
Website: http://www.thewritehelper.com
Sheldon Currie Fiction Prize
Category: Fiction
Closes: 31st May 2012
Fees: $25 for one entry. $30 (US); $40 (RoW).
Prizes: $600 for first place. $400; $200. Also publication.
Details: For fiction up to 20 pages.
Contact: The Antigonish Review Contest, Box 5000, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, B2G 2W5
Country: Canada
Email: tar@stfx.ca
Website: http://www.antigonishreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=62
The Novel Prize 2012
Category: Fiction
Closes: 31st August 2012
Fees: £0 for one entry.
Prizes: £0 for first place. £6,000 worth of professional services.
Details: The Novel Prize showcases how far self-publishing, handled professionally, can take you by offering a unique opportunity to win expert editorial, design, publishing and marketing services. The winner receives: 1. Editing (worth up to £2,500); 2. Design and publishing (£1,000); 3. Publicity (£500); 4. Social media consultancy and web design (£2,000). Entry is free and is open until 31 August 2012. Full terms on the website.
Contact: The Book Specialist, Bye Pass Road, Nottingham, England
Country: United Kingdom
Website: http://www.thebookspecialist.com
The FFW Flash Fiction Contest
Category: Fiction
Closes: 9th June 2012
Fees: £0 for one entry. Free to enter.
Prizes: £25.00 for first place. 2nd £15.00, 3rd £10.00
Details: All stories of up to 1000 words that are published on our site are automatically entered into our free quarterly competition.
Country: United Kingdom
Website: http://www.flash-fiction-world.com
Cowbridge Book Festival
Category: Fiction
Closes: 1st April 2012
Fees: £0 for one entry.
Prizes: £100 for first place. 2nd prize £50 3rd prize £25.
Details: This is an opportunity for everyone over the age of sixteen, who enjoys writing, to put his/her literary skills to the test. Your task: To compose an introductory chapter to a short story in not more than 750 words. To enter post your submission to the address below.
Contact: Cowbridge Book Festival 2012, Creative Writing Competition, Cowbridge Community College, Old Hall, High St. Cowbridge, CF71 7AH
Country: United Kingdom
Website: http://cowbridgebookfestival.co.uk/creative-writing-competition/
The Word Hut Short Story Competition
Category: Fiction
Closes: 13th May 2012
Fees: £4 for one entry.
Prizes: £50 for first place.
Details: Short stories up to 1000 words on any theme or in any genre. Written in English. Stories previously posted on blogs accepted.
Country: United Kingdom
Email: info@thewordhut.com
Website: http://www.thewordhut.com
ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA Via RWA
*Open to published authors
**Open to published and unpublished authors
**Romancing the ScriptSponsor: Scriptscene RWA
Fee: $20 for Scriptscene members, $25 for other RWA chapter members
Deadline: May 1, 2012
Eligibility: Any RWA chapter member.
Entry: First Act, not to exceed 30 pages. Electronic entry only. PDF format. Entry must be in standard industry spec script format. (See Scriptscene website for example.) If chosen as one of the 3 finalists, full completed script (PDF) must be submitted for the final judging.
Categories: Any genre as long as there are romantic elements in script.
Preliminary Judges: Professionals in the movie industry.
Final Judge: Suzanne Lyons, Producer/President Snowfall Films, Inc and WindChill Films, Inc.
Top Prizes: Read by Zac Sanford, VP of Development at Suntaur Entertainment. Winner/Finalists receive log line listing in InkTip and a 6-month subscription to InkTip’s Preferred Newsletter (www.inktip.com). Please check Scriptscene’s website for additional prizes.
FMI, visit Scriptscene http://www.scriptscene.org. Please contact Leslie Ann Sartor at rts.contest@gmail.com if you have questions.
SCRIPT WRITING OPPORTUNITIES Via ISA:
(N.B. Only contact the companies listed below between 2 April – 25th April 2012)
NYC ARTS SCHOOL SEEKS SCREENWRITING FACULTY
The Bronx Academy of the Arts (opening 2014) is seeking prospective (part-time) faculty for the following positions: Intro to Screenwriting, Advanced Screenwriting, My First Novel, Intro to Songwriting. Apply online at http://www.bronxartsacademy.com/faculty-staff-application. All levels of experienced and talent are welcome. Thank you.
ASIA-BASED PRODUCERS SEEK SCRIPTS
We are Asian-based producers soliciting completed feature-length scripts (action-adventure / thriller / sci fi / etc) that portray stories and/or characters about Chinese culture and/or that are set in China — OR — scripts with an identifiable rewrite potential set in China (‘sinosizable’). Successful scripts will be produced in the People’s Republic of China and will necessarily be vetted by the government. Content already translated into Mandarin and/or pre-approved material will be given very high priority. Budget range to be determined. Both WGA and non-WGA writers may submit. Send inquiries to us at intlcreative@gmail.com
PRODUCTION COMPANY SEEKS SCRIPTS
THE PHILM COMPANY is looking to expand our slate of scripts specifically COMMERCIAL stories that can be produced on 500k-£2m of any genre. We’re also interested in reading scripts that are set in Asia and written by screenwriters local to that region. We’re always looking to find the next best screenplay but be realistic: we are not a studio and therefore probably unable to produce your $500m sci-fi blockbuster! If you are a represented writer, please ask your agent/manager to submit your project via the guidelines below. Selected scripts will be optioned by the company and developed with the writer. At this initial stage please ONLY submit: a log-line and a synopsis (up to one page.) Send to info@philmcompany.com If we like the sound of your script we will then contact you to request a full length screenplay. DO NOT SEND SCREENPLAYS STRAIGHT AWAY. Please do NOT send short film or documentary ideas.
SCREENWRITER FOR COLLABORATION
Do you have a great logline? An intriguing idea? A first draft or an in-depth outline for a screenplay that will get industry attention? If you do and need help with structure, dialogue, etc., I can help. I have optioned one feature and have had a 20-minute drama produced. I would like to collaborate with another writer with a great idea. If that is you, write to me at screenwriter500@aol.com
MADATOMS.COM SEEKING FREELANCE COMEDY WRITERS
MadAtoms.com is seeking freelance (paid) comedy writers to produce our daily comedy content in the form of essays, charts, comics, infographics, illustrations and more. If you’re a hilarious writer interested in writing with a unique take on sex, dating, politics, film and TV, pop culture and everything else relavent to creative 20-somethings, get in touch. Please send samples to submissions@madatoms.com Please no fake news, “funny” sports commentary, blatantly copy-pasted generic CVs without samples, or links to an impossible-to-navigate blog about your college basketball team. We want short and funny. We pay for every article we publish, offer good exposure, and have hookups with a major studio in L.A. Thanks.
SEEKING BRIT COM FEATURE SCREENPLAY
Eclipse Talent are looking to make their first comedy feature film. A Brit Flick in similar style to The Full Monty and East is East. If you have a script or idea that you think we might be interested in please email: eclipsetalent@aol.com THE SCREENPLAY MUST BE BRITISH.
LOOKING FOR A CREATIVE SCRIPTWRITER
Looking for a creative scriptwriter to help with the script for a promotional film trailer to promote the sport of airsoft within the UK. The short 1 minute advert is a collaboration to enable us to test the limitations of the Canon DSLR’s and C300 in a variety of conditions and set-ups. Airsofting is a hobby sport within the UK that caters for teenagers and adults alike to enjoy ‘real’ call of duty game play, utilising realistic weaponry and tactics, the sport is played throughout the UK on a number of woodland, urban and sometimes offshore sites! I’ve got a basic script plan, with locations already organised, along with kit and crew. I’m now looking for a talented scriptwriter to develop a narrative around what we have, this will be a great opportunity for anyone looking to move into screenplay development and may lead to future work – as we’re currently looking at funding a feature. Dates for filming are currently the 14th and 15th of April. Send inquiries to tom@tbpfilms.com
DIRECTOR SEEKS FEATURE SCREENPLAY
I am a director looking for a feature film screenplay that I would turn into my debut. If finding the right material, funds for the film will not be a problem – after directing a short film trilogy, I am currently second director on a major feature film shot in the Czech Republic and the production company is happy to back my own debut. I am looking to shoot as soon as 1st half of 2013. If you are a writer with a good script (or even just an idea) looking to have their screenplay produced, please send me a 1 page treatment to mike.samir@live.com Any genre, any length, at this stage I am completely open, looking for the right thing, something that will shatter all the ideas I have. If your script is intriguing to me, I will immediately contact you with more details. Looking forward to hearing from you.
SCREENWRITER FOR TRACK/COACHING FILM STORY
You know how to craft a slick, professional screenplay. But do you also know about track & field, about coaching? If so, we should talk. I have a film story that can win. Am seeking a writing partner to develop my treatment into a full screenplay. Imagine bad news brs. + chariots of fr. x Special Olympics. Work together in trust and integrity; share equally in a sale. Send inquiries to me, Jess Prochilo, at jesspro98@hotmail.com
LOOKING FOR SCRIPT EDITOR
I am looking for a script editor to edit my three short film scripts. The first one is a 25 page short film script. If we are both happy working together after this one then we will work on the other scripts. These are all non-profit short film scripts but I will be happy to pay 100 GBP per script. Native language should be English. Please inquire with me at omerkula@kulaworks.com
PILOT WRITER WANTED
I have an idea for a dramedy television series, but I want somebody to write the pilot. Think PUSHING DAISIES meets GLEE with a hint of THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. Send your writing samples to Tim Bartow at baackflipcreator@aol.com under the subject line “pilot writer”. Non-paying gig.
DIRECTOR SEEKS CHARACTER DRIVEN COMEDY FOR 2013 PRODUCTION
Jnine Media and lead director are looking for feature length dark or quirky character driven comedies for option and production. (Examples: Juno, Napoleon Dynamite, School for Scoundrels) Family, character, and/or multicultural driven casts a plus. Script would be optioned and considered for 2013 production. Budget range would be $200,000-$500,000. Option fee available. Please send the synopsis and/or script for your project to Jenn Shaw at jenn@jninemedia.com. The director will contact you directly with interest. Thank you.
COMEDIC SCREENWRITER NEEDED FOR SOCIAL MEDIA SKETCH SERIES
Poquito Johnson films are in need of an experienced screenwriter to collaborate on a “on the fly” social media comedy sketch series which takes place in Tampa Florida. Ideal candidate would be in the Tampa area, be between the ages of 18-34, and of course be *frigging* awesome. If samples are submitted, please register them with an appropriate Writing Guild before submission. Currently position is non-paid. Contact Mutt Johnson at poquito.johnsonfilms@gmail.com
CONFERENCES AND CLASSES:
Building The Author Internet Presence — 2 Month Course by Jen Talty $40.00
Will be Offered May/June 2012
Register here. If you don’t exist on the Internet do you exist at all? Discoverability is the key to the 21st century author. In this workshop I will guide you through various on-line interactions that can help increase your Discoverability. In order to be discovered it is important to make sure everything you do has a unifying them. All of your interactions on the Internet have to be meaningful to you and your followers. We will discuss your banding and marketing plans, making sure you have all the key elements in place. This workshop is heavy in content and theory, however there will many exercises to help you increase your brand’s discoverability.
SHAPING YOUR STORY: Narrative Structure Workshop *5 places left
With Vicky Grut
Saturday, 21 April 2012, 10.30am – 4pm
A practical day of writing exercises and focused discussion for novelists and short story writers who want to explore story structure. Come along and experiment with different kinds of story shapes or bring an existing story outline and get feedback on work-in-progress in a supportive environment. Cost: £85 includes tea, coffee and a sandwich lunch. Group limit: 12.
Please remember to check out legitimacy of all contests, classes, and conferences before you enter, and to copyright all your work before you submit.
Good luck and let me know how you get on.
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Donna Collins' Blog 