ESSAY CONTEST

The non-profit organization Preserve Historic Forsyth is holding a contest for ideas about how our community can be improved economically, socially, physically and politically through historic preservation. Entries to that contest will be limited to 100 words or less, and will be judged on content. You can find the guidelines for this PHF contest here.

Winston-Salem Writers is holding a simultaneous contest for essays on the same subject, “Illuminating Preservation.” Entries to that contest, which may, but need not be, expansions of ideas submitted to the Preserve Historic Forsyth contest, will be limited to 750 words or less, and will be judged on literary merit.  The guidelines for our contest are below.

Winston-Salem Writers Essay Contest – Guidelines

This Essay Contest is being held by Winston-Salem Writers simultaneously with a Preserve Historic Forsyth contest. Both contests will have the same subject: “Illuminating Preservation.” Judging of the two contests will be conducted separately; the essays entered in the Winston-Salem Writers Essay Contest will be judged on literary merit.

REQUIREMENTS

Each entry must be based on an idea for how our community can be improved economically, socially, physically and politically through historic preservation. An entry may, but need not be, an expansion of an idea entered in the Preserve Historic Forsyth contest. Each entry must be limited to 750 words or less, original work and previously unpublished – authors must notify Winston-Salem Writers immediately and withdraw from the contest if their work is accepted for publication elsewhere. Reading fees will not be refunded.

HOW TO ENTER

Submissions should be mailed to Winston-Salem Writers, 380 H Knollwood Street #157, Winston-Salem, NC 27103, and should include:

Cover Sheet: Include a cover sheet for each entry with your name, address, telephone and e-mail, word count and the title of the work. Indicate whether you are a member of Preserve Historic Forsyth, or Winston-Salem Writers, or neither.

Essay: Submit 3 double-spaced copies of your entry in standard font (Times preferred) in 12-pt. type, in black ink, with title and page number on each page. Your name must not appear on your manuscript pages, or your entry will be disqualified.

Reading Fees: For each entry: PHF or WSW Members, $5; Non-members of either PHF or WSW, $10.  A personal check or money order made payable to Winston-Salem Writers must accompany your submission.  Work may be withdrawn from the contest at any time, but reading fees will not be refunded.

SASE: Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you wish to receive a list of winners by mail. Essays will not be returned. (Winners will be notified by phone or e-mail, and a list will be posted on the Winston-Salem Writers website, http://www.wswriters.org/contest-winners/.)

DEADLINE

All entries must be postmarked by February 24, 2012.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Winners will be notified by phone or by e-mail on March 16, 2012. The judges’ decisions will be announced at the Preserve Historic Forsyth annual meeting on April 1, 2012, and posted on the Winston-Salem Writers website the next day.

PRIZES

First, second, and third place contest winners will be published, along with the winners of other Winston-Salem Writers contests, in the Winston-Salem Writers anthology, Taking Flight 2012. Winners will receive one free copy of the anthology, and will be able to purchase additional copies at half price.

RIGHTS

The Author retains copyright to the work or works entered and published; but by entering the Winston-Salem Writers essay contest, writers give Winston-Salem Writers permission to publish the entered work or works in Taking Flight 2012, an anthology to be published by Winston-Salem Writers, and to list the author’s name in the Anthology, on the Winston-Salem Writers and Preserve Historic Forsyth websites, and in press releases and other attendant publicity.

JUDGES

All works will be read blind. Judges will not be eligible to submit to the contest, and will disqualify themselves from judging any work that they may recognize.

Carol Roan is a director of Winston-Salem Writers, and a previous member of the Preserve Historic Forsyth board of directors. She is co-editor of Taking Flight: Winston-Salem in Prose & Poetry (Winston-Salem Writers, 2011) and When Last on the Mountain: The View from Writers over 50 (Holy Cow! Press, 2010), and author of Speak Up: The Public Speaking Primer (Press 53, 2010), Speak Easy: A Guide to Successful Performances, Presentations, Speeches, and Lectures (Starrhill Press, 1995) and Clues to American Dance (Starrhill Press, 1993).

Susan Williamson is a vice-president of Winston-Salem Writers, and is co-editor of Taking Flight: Winston-Salem in Prose & Poetry (Winston-Salem Writers, 2011). She has worked with preservation efforts as a founding member of the Edmonton-Metcalfe County Chamber of Commerce, as the remodeler and owner of a business located in two different rehabbed structures and in community development work through the Cooperative Extension Service. She has served as editor of a weekly community newspaper, and a freelance writer for two other newspapers.

QUERIES

Please direct all questions to info@wswriters.org.