First Wednesday of the month means IWSG the fantastic group started by Alex J. Cavanaugh to share, complain and celebrate together as writers in this difficult business. Last year the members of IWSG joined together to write the non-fiction book The Insecure Writer's Support Group Guide to Publishing and Beyond. This year, IWSG brings you another fantastic project. Read the details below and visit the IWSG site to learn more and join in this contest. It's been months in the planning and we're very excited about it.
The IWSG Short Story Contest 2015
After the success of last year’s IWSG Guide to Publishing and Beyond, we decided to create another book. This time it’s a short story competition with the top ten stories getting published in the anthology.
Eligibility: Any member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group is encouraged to enter – blogging or Facebook member. The story must be previously unpublished. Entry is free.
Word count: 5000-6000
Theme: Alternate History/Parallel Universe. That’s right, we’ve decided to go the speculative route. This theme has plenty of scope and we’re open to pretty much anything along these lines, except erotica or graphic violence.
Story deadline: November 1st 2015
How to enter: Send your polished, formatted, previously unpublished story to TheIWSG at gmail dot com before the deadline passes. Make sure to include your contact details.
Judging: The IWSG admins will create a shortlist of the best stories. The shortlist will then be sent to our official judges:
· Laura Maisano - Senior editor at Anaiah Press for their YA/NA Christian fiction
· Russell Connor – Author and owner of Dark Filament Publishing Startup
· Candace Havens - Author and Editorial Director for the Covet, Edge and Select lines at Entangled Publishing
· Dawn Frederick – Literary agent and the founder of Red Sofa Literary
· Alice Speilburg – Founder of the Speilburg Literary Agency
· Michelle Johnson – Founder of Inklings Literary Agency and Writers' Center and Bookstore owner
· Kendare Blake - Author
· Lydia Moëd - Associate agent at The Rights Factory
Prizes: The winning stories will be edited and published by Freedom Fox Press in the IWSG anthology next year. Authors will receive royalties on books sold, both print and eBook. The top story will have the honor of giving the anthology its title. The winners will also receive an exclusive badge to display on their blog.
We’re excited to see the creativity and enthusiasm that’s such a part of this group put into action. So don your creative caps and start writing. And spread the word!
We’re excited to see the creativity and enthusiasm that’s such a part of this group put into action. So don your creative caps and start writing. And spread the word!
Do you have a short story in mind or an old one you can polish up? How about that list of judges! Are you ready to get published?
Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Labor Day weekend. We're off to another wedding, a nephew this time. But most of the time, we'll be relaxing at home and enjoying the last few days of having the pool open. Now get to work on that short story.
56 comments:
Wonderful post and what a great idea for the ISWG. Alex certainly started a very good group when he started it. I wish I could write short stories but all I can do is try and write poetry.
Enjoy your day.
Yvonne.
I continue to be amazed at how IWSG creates opportunities for writers! Awesome!
Hi Susan - have a great long weekend .. and yes your family is into weddings .. lovely for everyone to meet up and keep in touch ..
The anthology is a great idea .. good luck to one and all - cheers Hilary
This contest is going to rock!
Enjoy your weekend.
I'm all tickled about this. And such wonderful judges! This is good news for the #IWSG community. I'm sure the anthology will shine!
I'm not sure what we have planned for the weekend. Enjoy yours!
I actually forgot Labor Day weekend was coming up!
I'll have to think about writing/subbing something for the anthology - it's outside my genre and the word count is way longer than I usual do - but you never know. :)
Hi,
This is a fantastic treat for some writers. I look forward to reading the anthology.
Shalom,
Patricia
Ooh, I wish I could think something up to submit...I'll have to put my thinking cap on. What a great opportunity!
That sounds like a wonderful contest! Best of luck to those that enter it!
betty
The contest is an awesome opportunity! Have fun at the wedding. :)
weddings are always a treat :)
shahwharton.com
I have one, but it's too short.
Neat contest, though. :)
IWSG #119 until Alex culls the list again
Sure an awesome contest indeed. The cat will have to get thinking.
Have fun at the wedding, Susan!
The IWSG contest has generated quite a buzz... exciting...
I'm excited about this anthology. I have always been insecure about my short stories, but this "as a group we are trying" think may give me the confidence to give it a shot.
I do hope you enjoy the wedding. Travel safely. The anthology definitely sounds exciting. Thank you for your encouraging words on my blog.
WOW! I saw this on Alex's place, and it makes me wish I could find my muse in time. Who knows. Maybe inspiration will strike. I need to visit another dimension to kick this writer's block
I'm drawing a blank for a short story. Probably because I'm a full novel writer; something to do with suffering from verbal diarrhoea. LOL. Happy IWSG Day, Susan!
Yay for the contest! It's at the length of story that I struggle with, but maybe something will work out . . . in October. :)
Have fun on these last days of summer with the wedding and your pool!
This really sounds like a fun contest!! Happy extended weekend!
I have 4 more short stories due this year, and I really want to enter the contest too. I mean, it's totally down my lane. So where is my time-stopper? Did I lend it to you?
This is such a great idea! Unfortunately, I won't be able to come up with something in the genre while working on everything else. *sighs*
This is such a great idea! Unfortunately, I won't be able to come up with something in the genre while working on everything else. *sighs*
I love this contest!
On a personal note, I have your numerology chart done. I just need to email it to you. I'm so so so so so sorry it's taken this long. (Does the amount of "so" I used effectively communicate the great degree of sorry I'm trying to show???)
Enjoy the wedding. Hope there's lots of yummy foods.
Catch ya on the flip side.
Seriously though, I'm SO happy about the contest! I have something that I've had floating around my brain for months that's been begging me to write it, but I've had other projects in line. It will work so perfectly for this though and I'm stoked! :)
Have a good time at the wedding! I really hope I get to do something fun this weekend, but if I get time to write I'll be happy :)
- Madilyn Quinn @ NovelBrews
Another milestone for #IWSG! This is a great opportunity.
Enjoy your weekend wedding. I'm expecting a relatively quiet weekend.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
Isn't it great? I think the anthology will be a lot of fun for everyone.
The poem you shared today really touched me. Alex is a great guy.
Alex keeps us going.
I am looking forward to seeing my little brother this weekend at the wedding.
I believe it will shine too, SA, and help some writers.
And you also. No plans are sometimes the best time.
I hope you come up with something. I'm sure it would be good.
Exciting news. Sounds like fun. IWSG is so great. Love the community.
Juneta Writer's Gambit
I have an idea in mind for the anthology. There will be so many awesome writers in competition.
Have a good week.
Thanks for letting everyone know.
Thanks for letting everyone know.
I love the IWSG anthology contest idea! I'm seriously considering entering. Thanks for sharing, Susan. Enjoy your pool!
The contest sounds totally awesome. I hope I can think of an idea (and write a story short enough). Have fun at your nephew's wedding!
So happy to be a part of IWSG. Lots of encouragement and I can't wait to see what comes out of this contest!
I'm gonna have to set aside a couple of weeks for the story, if I come up with an idea. It's a fair bit longer than my usual, but I'm excited!
The contest sounds like a terrific opportunity, but I don't think I could write that genre. I might give it a try. I've heard it's a good exercise to read and write outside our preferred genre. I've always read a variety of genres, but I've never even attempted to write anything else.
Yay for the contest! It's going to be fab!
Hey Susan!
I mentioned on Alex's yesterday that I think this is a fabulous idea and I'm even more excited because this isn't my genre of choice, but I have an idea that I never thought would be big enough for a novel.. and now this contest comes along :)
Cheers, and have a great weekend :)
Susan, I'm doing my best to squeeze in a 5,000 word story. I think I can do it. This is a great idea!
Wow, you guys are all so ambitious. Good luck with this project -- I'll be looking forward to reading some outstanding short stories.
Have fun at the wedding!
You're going to get SO much good stuff in the contest. :)
It sounds like you have a fun weekend planned. My plans include: trying to make fire, make a fishing net, trying to catch a fish with something I make and make a walking cane. (research) Struggling for an idea for the anthology though...
This is going to be awesome. I don't know how the judges will decide!
This is going to be awesome. I don't know how the judges will decide!
Have fun at the wedding!
Wow, what a cool thing IWSG is doing. Hope the wedding, and your overall wedding, is going well, Susan!
My goodness, that is an exciting development - and certainly a natural step forward for your extraordinary community.
How cool! I've been anxiously awaiting the news
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