FALL CONTEST GUIDELINES
Submission Deadline: Midnight August 15, 2023
InScribe’s annual Fall Contest is exclusively for members, and for new, unpublished work. If you would like to explore membership, please click here. Our Fall Contest is a safe place to try a new genre and get professional feedback, or to enter a few of your favourite genres. This year we are offering five categories. See below for guidelines and details on cash prizes, categories, and more.
All writers are encouraged to enter, regardless of level
- Free for writers aged 18 years or younger.
- $30 per entry. This includes a professional critique.
- Judges are professional writers, and entries are judged according to these rubrics.
- A minimum of four entries are required to keep each category open. In the case of less than four, that category will be dissolved, and entry fees refunded.
- No simultaneous submissions except to submit to the 2024 Anthology (please do not send same manuscript to another contest).
- Please do not enter the same manuscript in more than one category.
- Late entries will be discarded.
CONTEST GUIDELINES: Steps to Enter your Piece(s)
- Membership is required if you are over 18 years of age. If you are not a member, please join us here.
- Please write something ORIGINAL in one of the categories below.
- Do not put your name on your manuscript.
- Follow the rubrics to craft a winning piece.
- Click here for submissions.
CATEGORIES:
Must be unpublished, new work. Pieces may be written for the mainstream or the Christian market. Truth may be presented subtly or overtly, as long as the message of the piece does not contradict scripture.
See judging rubrics here.
- Adult Fiction – Maximum 1500 words.
- Children’s Fiction – Maximum 1000 words. No pictures. Please state age level of targeted audience (e.g. age 3-8, 5-9, 7-10, 8-12, etc.).
- Personal Essay – Maximum 1500 words.
- Devotional – Maximum 400 words, including scripture.
- Poetry, Any Style – Maximum 40 lines. Please state poetry style on your submission (e.g., free verse, rhymed, sonnet, etc.)
PRIZES:
First: $100 and Certificate
Second: $50 and Certificate
Third: $30 and Certificate
Acceptance of a prize grants First North American Serial Rights to InScribe to publish award-winning manuscripts. Publication in FellowScript is considered at the discretion of the editorial staff and may appear in the regular issue or in the Fall Supplement, in hardcopy or online.
- Certificates included with all prizes, including Honourable Mentions.
- Winners announced at Fall Conference, in FellowScript, on our Blog, and Social Media.
- To encourage quality craftsmanship in the entries, the judges may not award all prizes in a given category.
- This is a blind contest. Judges will not enter into discussions or disputes regarding their decisions or awards.
- The contest coordinators do not judge the entries.
Questions? Please contact contests@inscribe.org with “Fall Contest Questions” in the subject field or check Frequently Asked Questions.
BEFORE YOU PRESS “SEND”:
Did you follow every step under “Steps to Enter your Piece?”
Did you check the rubrics?
Remember, DO NOT put your name on your manuscript.
We know it takes courage to submit your work. Well done!