Fiction Submissions Checklist
By Helen Sears
The quality of submissions we’re receiving for the contest makes taking a turn at editing something we all look forward to. Thank you to everyone who cares enough about solid writing to submit a piece for consideration!
We receive so many good entries it’s difficult to choose just one with the designation of “winner.” At the same time, we’ve noticed that several of the pieces miss the top slots because of similar revision “soft spots” which may have been overlooked when redrafting.
Because we are students of writing and consider ourselves on a continuous learning path, we want to offer some of the elements in our own work we wrestle with when approaching the last drafts: (these apply primarily to prose, poetry being a country all its own)
- Whatever is mentioned first has great weight in setting up the “contract” with the reader. Stay true to it and weave it throughout the piece, even if in subtle, slant ways. Develop this concept or image, then come back to it at the end in a way that completes its arc.
- Every detail should have its own arc (pattern of development) within the story, but always in conjunction with the main arc: images, descriptions, dialogue. This provides movement within the piece in addition to the main arc.
- Decide where to linger. These are opportunities to emphasize a moment by slowing the pace down via greater detailed reactions, descriptions of objects noticed by a character, gestures.
- Put dialogue and its connected action in the same paragraph. This helps the reader keep track of who’s speaking and moving.
- Avoid clichés by any possible means, both in narrative/dialogue and plot. This includes any element that is too predictable.
- Endings: as our faculty members say, endings need to surprise, yet seem inevitable. Special care to give an unexpected twist or dimension, yet click perfectly into its prepared place, provides more satisfaction for the reader. And setting up an ending is as important as the ending itself. A final lingering to notice things with changed eyes or enlarged scope adds depth and resonance. Everything in the story beginning with the first word needs to work up to the ending.
Thanks, again, for submitting your good work. We look forward to the contests ahead!
(note: do not use the comments area below for submissions. We mean it. We will immediately delete submissions posted as comments.)
Hi,
May an author submit a prose AND a poetry piece? I see you request ‘no multiple submissions’, so I’m just checking.
Thank you.
You can submit prose one month, and poetry the next, but not during the same month. Exactly right, no multiple submissions.
Hi,
Are authors allowed one poem and one fiction piece, or one piece overall?
Thank you,
Jane
We only choose one entry each month. It all depends on who knocks the judges socks off first. Why not submit one of your pieces next month, that way you won’t be entering against yourself. (A person can win twice, or more, after all.)
Thanks!
Hi,
Do you offer feedback on submitted material?
Thanks
Gary
Hi, thanks for the inquiry. Generally, we don’t offer feedback, though it can vary from judge to judge.
Is this contest open for Indian nationals?
Yes, we get submissions internationally.
Is it acceptable to send in an entry under a pseudonym?
It’s entirely up to the submitter. Since there’s a $50 prize, you’ll also need to note you prefer to be published under a pseudonym, and supply your real name and address so that, should you be chosen as a given month’s winner, your prize can be correctly administered.
I thought the competition closed 10/31/09? I was about to submit but your website now says:
“The submissions mailbox is now closed. Please check back November 1.”
See the Student Choice Contest Rules. The mailbox will reopen November 1, and early in the month is the best time to submit. Good luck!
I would want further information on competitions. Thanks
See the Student Choice Contest Rules
I just wanted to check that I’m able to enter from the UK and make sure I don’t have to be a student to do so! I’m a bit older than that. Do I take it that the only rule is that it can’t be a work that’s been previously published, but the writer can have had other work published?
Many thanks,
Steve
Steve, you’re right on all counts. You don’t have to be a student, and you can be a published writer. It’s only the contest piece you submit that has to be previously unpublished.
Hi I am Chanaria so how do i do the contest exactly please tell me and i will try to get back very soon Signed,
a 13 year old
Chanaria, check out this link to the Contest Rules. The mailbox for March is now open. Good luck.
I’m trying to submit a story for this month’s contest and I get: “The February Mailbox is now closed. Please visit us again starting March 1, when the contest mailbox reopens.” It’s now March 2.
Thank you! I don’t know why this happens — I post the page, and it reverts to an old one. A WordPress glitch? I’m so glad you called it to my attention — should be fixed now, please try again. Apologies.
well i am far away from the us, i’m in mauritius. is it still possible for me to enter? and i have one more question please, where can we get a submissions form?
is the info to be submitted about the newspaper etc to send the press release to mandatory or optional, i.e., if one wants the winning to be certified?
Press release info is optional. Good luck with your submission.
Is there a specific theme to write about for August?
The theme for August is listed on the student choice contest page.
Please refer to the contest rules and submission guidelines. They are in the pull down menu under student choice contest.
Is there a theme for August? Or are we allowed to submit whatever genre we want?
Are extracts from longer pieces acceptable? Thank you.
Please refer to the contest rules. They are in the pull down menu under student choice contest.
Hi,
In the contest rules it says to name the organization or newspaper to send the story to if you win but I don’t understand what you mean. Could you please explain?
Thank You
“and the writing organization or newspaper to send the press release”
If you are part of a writing organization, such as Northwest Institute of Literary Arts, or have a hometown newspaper whom you would like to be notified should you win this contest, you would include this information at the end of your entry. A press release about your win would then be sent to either the organization or the newspaper. I hope this answers your question.
I want to enter the same story but for the September contest… Is that allowed?
I also forgot to write the name of the story when I sent it in but included all the other details… Is that okay?
Thank you for answering my previous question.
We have a different judge each month, so it should be OK to submit the same story. Should your story be selected as the winner, you would let us know the title of the story at that time.
I wanted to enter my story into this month’s contest but it said it’s closed and that was on 9th September and it’s now 12th September! Can you fix it?
A winner has been chosen for this month’s contest. Someone already knocked the socks off our judge. We will have another contest in October. Please submit your story then. Thanks.
Okay.. Thnx
hi
i am interested with the contest but how can i submit my story?
We will have a new contest beginning October 1st. The mailbox will open at that time. Please check back with us.
Hello,
I’d like to ask whether there are different prizes on the basis of age or are 13 year olds competing with seventeen year olds?
I face a problem with mailbox link, in which my Mircosoft Outlook fails to work. Do the organizer accept entries through a particular e-mail address, such as gmail? If so, may I know the address?
Thanks in forward.
I have checked the link and it is working. I’m sorry you cannot access it. Unfortunately, I cannot directly give you the email address.
The link for submitting a story doesn’t work on my computer. Would you mind giving me an e-mail address?
I have checked the link and it is working. I’m sorry you cannot access it. Unfortunately, I cannot directly give you the email address.
Hi erm if i was to write a story would it have tohave an ending or could it be a cliffhanger? What is the minimum amount of words i can use?
It should be a complete story.
We do not ask participant ages.
Is there a snail mail address I can enter at? My phone only allows so many characters, and I have no option but to use it.
I’m sorry, there is no snail mail address through which to enter.
Does the winner receive the $50 in cash or cheque?
Also, is it completely free for the winner from another country (but the USA)? What I mean is, will the winner have to pay a fee to receive the cash prize?
It is a free contest. The winner receives a check.
Hi,
This may sound like a strange question, but can I submit a Greek myth that I wrote? It’s fiction, but I was wondering…
Thanks!
As long as your story falls within the theme of the contest for the month you are submitting, you may submit.
Sorry, one more question. Is the prize in US dollars?
Yes, it is in U.S. dollars.
Hi
My name us Rachael and I was wondering if you are still doing the competition and if an Irish 11 year old could enter?
Thanks
Rachael J Mahon
Anyone may enter the competition.
Hey. Is there a defined topic for short stories submissions?
And, is the submission opened to overseas people not residing in the US?
If there is a theme/topic, it is posted on the student choice contest page. Some months there is a theme and some months there is not.
Yes, the contest is open to people not residing in the U.S.
Hey,
Will we get an email if our entry is NOT chosen? (:
Ellie x
No, you will not.
Do say. If someone who sends from India wins a prize, how will you send him/her the prize money?. Do say.
We send payment via U.S. Postal Service, in the form of a check.
Do you have to write the whold story or can you only give the first chapter or so?
Your entry must be one complete short story or poem.
Hello,
I submitted a story on June 30 (too late for the June competition, I know) and I was wondering if it would be considered for the July competition since it was so late in June, or if I should consider it rejected and try again.
Thank you!
Sorry for the late response. You are always welcome to resend your entry. A new entry would be best, though.
i’m guessing there aren’t any topics or themes to follow?
by the way, thanks for the oppurtunity.
If there is a theme, it is posted on the home page. Tomorrow is the start of a new contest month.
In the submission checklist for poets, It is mentioned that we may choose any subject matter – personal or public.
Does it mean that the poem need not be related to the theme of the month?
If a theme is listed for the month, entrants must follow the theme.
The theme for Sept is writer’s choice? It can be anything right?
And whats the word limit?
Yes, writer’s choice means there is no specific theme. The writer can submit whatever s/he wishes.
As you have ‘one time electronic publishing rights’, does this mean that a winner would be able to then publish his/her stories elsewhere, for example in an anthology?
Yes, that is correct.
Hi, i wanted to ask we will get a certification of participation right? Even if we don’t win.
There is no certificate of participation.
Would I stand a chance at winning even though I am eleven? I have started writing and daydreaming since I was 5. My story is sad and quite short. Does it matter how long it is? This story is based on elements I have either seen, lived, read or heard in my short existence. Oh, I have one last question, does the book get published? Please reply as soon as you can.
Sincerely,
M.
This is a short story and poetry competition. Everyone has the same chance of winning regardless of age. We do not accept book-length entries. If your story/poem (no more than 1000 words) wins, it would be published on the website.
I see a lot of questions about what the theme is for a given month. I know, check the homepage if you want to know the current month’s theme, if any. BUT, is there any way to tell a theme ahead of time? For example, could I know right now (Dec. 30, 2011) what the theme is for Jan. 2012, or even Feb/Mar/Apr/May/Jun… 2012? Knowing if there is a theme, and what that might be, would allow entrants to start writing before the start of the month in which they want to enter. Thanks…
Sometimes we do not know the theme in advance, but we will take your suggestion under consideration.
‘All entries must be in English, original, unpublished, and not submitted elsewhere until the winners are announced’. Does it mean that I cannot submit my entry to other contests if I am submitting it here? What if a person decides to write the same plot but using different words? Does it count as a separate entry?
We do not accept simultaneous submissions. If you submit to our contest, you cannot submit elsewhere. It is highly unlikely that someone else would write the same plot as you, but in different words.
My Daughter is 11 years old and would like to submit a story please can you tell me if she is old enough also how do we submit the story
There are no rules concerning age for the student choice contest.
hmmmm….I’m unable to open the ink to send my entry….is there another way to forward a submission?
The link is the only way to submit. It has been tested and is working.
No, there is no other way to submit. You must use the mailbox link provided. Check to see if you have a mail program installed on your computer. That could be the issue.
Please how do I get to no my faults in my last writing just in case I don’t win. Is there any feedback?