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7/26 – H.G. Wells Short Story Competition + WOW Summer Flash Fiction Contest

By Black Heart Staff • on July 26, 2010

This week’s first writing contest seems to have a spot of science fiction to its rules and regulations, but as it has recently extended its deadlines, we wanted to include it in our list.

Additionally, we’ve also got a small entry fee competition open to all writers (not just women, despite the contest’s name), with an optional critique for an additional ten bucks.

Zounds!

H.G. Wells Short Story Competition

H.G. Wells, the "father of science fiction"

As reported by the Kent News, no one has yet entered this prestigious, £1,000 short story competition, possibly due to its highly unusual requirements for entry. So, first things first—this is what you’ve gotta do to win:

Length: 1,000 to 5,000 words
Genre: Sci-Fi is NOT allowed (even though we all know H.G. Wells was the father of science fiction); the judges are looking for “stories reflecting the lives of ordinary people”
Deadline: August 15, 2010
Et Cetera: Entries “must be handwritten, because that is considered an important aspect of literacy”

Yes, that’s right: all entries to the H.G. Wells competition must be about real people, and written by hand. Still want to enter? Well, grit your teeth and think of the Queen, because the grand prize of £1,000 ($1,542 US) is only open to writers aged 25 and under. For all you oldsters 26 and up, you’re still eligible to win the “Senior Prize” of £250 (which is still a fairly respectable $385 US).

For more info on how to enter this contest and where to send your handwritten entries (along with the entry form), please see the H.G. Wells Festival website, here.

Women On Writing (WOW) Summer 2010 Flash Fiction Contest

Don't forget to check out WOW's sample flash fiction critique before you enter their summer contest

Women On Writing (aka WOW) sponsors a quarterly contest, and their Summer 2010 Flash Fiction Contest is being judged by literary agent Kathleen Ortiz. The genre is open, and the WOW website notes that they “love creativity, originality, and light-hearted reads.” More details…

Word Count: Max 750, min 250 (not including your title)
Entry Fee: $10 / $20 with optional critique
Deadline: August 31, 2010 at midnight (Pacific)
PRIZES:

First Prize nets $250, a $25 Amazon gift certificate, publication, a one-year subscription to Premium-Green Markets Community ($48 value), a copy of WOW! I Can Organize My Own Blog Tour by Jodi Webb and Angela Mackintosh ($19.95 value), and an interview on the WOW! Women On Writing Blog.
Second Prize wins $150, a $25 Amazon gift certificate, publication, a one-year subscription to Premium-Green Markets Community, a copy of WOW! I Can Organize My Own Blog Tour, and an interview on the WOW Blog.
Third Prize gets $100, a $25 Amazon gift certificate, publication, a one-year subscription to Premium-Green Markets Community, a copy of WOW! I Can Organize My Own Blog Tour, and an interview on the WOW Blog.
7 Runners Up and 15 Honorable Mentions will also be awarded