The Writer's Digest 9th Annual Short Short Story Competition

We're looking for fiction that's bold, brilliant...but brief. Send us your best in 1,500 words or fewer.
But don't be too long about it—the deadline is December 1, 2008.

PRIZES
First Place: $3,000
Second Place: $1,500
Third Place: $500
Fourth Through Tenth Place: $100
Eleventh Through Twenty-Fifth Place: $50 gift certificate for Writer's Digest Books

* The First-Place winner has the option of a FREE "Best Seller Publishing Package" from Trafford Publishing, a leading provider of book-publishing services.

* The names and story titles of the First-through Tenth-Place winners will be printed in the May/June 2009 Writer's Digest, and winners will receive the 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market. Plus, all winners will receive a free copy of the 9th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition Collection. Trafford Publishing is also offering a 20% discount on select publishing packages to all winners.

The 1st- through 25th-place manuscripts will be printed in a special competition collection, published by Trafford Publishing. Use the entry form to order your copy or purchase a copy online using a credit card. Order now to receive the 50%-off, pre-publication special price. (Publication date: May, 2009. You are not required to purchase the collection to enter the competition.)

For entrants paying with a credit card, we will accept manuscripts submitted online.

The Rules

1. The competition is open to manuscripts of 1,500 words or fewer. Entries outside the word limitation will be disregarded. Type the word count on the first page of your entry along with your name, address, phone number and email address. No refunds will be issued for disqualified entries.

2. The entry fee is $12 per manuscript. You may enter as many manuscripts as you wish. If you are submitting your entry via regular mail, you may send one check (in U.S. funds) and one entry form for all entries. There will be a $10 charge for all returned checks or declined credit cards. Credit cards will be charged within 90 days of the contest deadline. Charges will appear on your statement as “F+W Contests.”

3. All entries must be in English, original, unpublished, and not submitted or accepted elsewhere at the time of submission. Writer's Digest reserves one-time publication rights to the 1st- through 25th-place winning entries to be published in a Writer's Digest publication.

4. If you are submitting your entry via regular mail, all entries must be typewritten and double-spaced on one side of 8-1/2 x 11 or A4 white paper. Manuscripts will not be returned. Entries must be stapled.

5. Entries must be postmarked by .

6. Winners will be notified by February 13, 2009. If you have not been contacted by this date, you may assume that your entry is not a finalist and may be marketed elsewhere.

7. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard with your entry if you want to be notified of its receipt. We cannot notify you personally of your story's status before the winners are announced. If entering online, you will receive a confirmation email for each entry you submit.

8. Winners' names will appear in the May/June 2009 issue of Writer's Digest magazine. Afterwards, their names and story titles will be posted at www.writersdigest.com.

9. The following are not permitted to enter the competition: employees of F+W Media, Inc., and their immediate families and Writer's Digest contributing editors and correspondents as listed on the masthead.

FAQ

Q: Is it okay to have illustration pictures on the cover?
A: Please send the text only

Q: If there is a word count, how many words per page am I allowed?
No preference

Q: How large of print is allowed?
No preference

Q: Are pen names allowed?
Pen names are fine. Write your pen name on all forms etc. so there is no mistakes on credits. Please be advised that we only need your real name if you are chosen as a winner (in order to issue prizes).

Q: What if I am not a U.S. resident?
WD writing competitions are open to non-U.S. residents as well. Please refer to the entry form and guidelines. All entry fees are due in U.S. Dollars.

Q: Is there an age limit for entrants?
No

Q: What if I wanted to submit only part of my novel into the competition ( to stay with in the maximum number of words)?
If you submit a portion of a novel please understand that it will be judged as a complete story, not part of another work, so it needs to a complete story in and of itself.

Q: When will winners be notified?
Top Award Winners will be notified by mail before February 13, 2009. The top 10 winners will be listed in the June 2009 issue of Writer's Digest. The top 25 winners will be listed in the 9th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition Collection (published by Trafford) and at www.writersdigest.com after the June issue is published.

Q: What are the word count requirements?
The competition is open to manuscripts 1,500 words or fewer.

Q: How do I order books published by F+W Media?
www.fwbookstore.com/category/writers-digest

Q: How do I subscribe to Writer's Digest?
visit www.writersdigest.com and click on the link

Q: Are there other writing competitions?
Yes! Visit www.writersdigest.com/competitions for other competitions for writers  

Privacy Promise
Occasionally we make portions of our customer list available to other companies so they may contact you about products and services that may be of interest to you. If you prefer we withhold your name, simply send a note with your name, address and the competition name to: List Manager, F+W Media, Inc., 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236.

A message from our Competition Collection sponsor:

Trafford Publishing is proud to sponsor the 9th annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition Collection. We love helping make author's dreams come true. In fact, since 1995 Trafford Publishing has helped more than 5,000 authors publish over 7,000 new titles around the world. If your short story is part of a book or you have a separate manuscript you want to publish we welcome you to visit our website or give us a call—we'll even send you a free guide which explains how publishing your book is easier than you might think.

We wish you all the best with your contest submission.

www.trafford.com/freeguide
toll-free: 1-888-232-4444 ext 1587

Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition Online Entry Form

Writer's Digest Short Short Story Printable Entry Form