The Virtual Press Annual Writer's Contest is an international contest for unpublished short stories in the English language in three categories: science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. All submissions should be 5,000 words or less. Charges $5 entry fee/submission--we want best efforts. Winners will be published in annual anthology. Runners-up in each of the three categories in 5th through 10th place will be considered for publication in anthologies in their respective categories. Deadline: Nov 1.
First Place:
$75.00 Featured in The Virtual Press Best Mysteries.
Second Place:
$50.00 Featured in The Virtual Press Best Mysteries.
Third Place:
$25.00 Featured in The Virtual Press Best Mysteries.
Fourth Place:
$10.00 Featured in The Virtual Press Best Mysteries.
Fifth-Tenth Place:
Winners will be strongly considered for publication in The Virtual Press Best Mysteries.
First Place:
$75.00 Featured in The Virtual Press Best Fantasy.
Second Place:
$50.00 Featured in The Virtual Press Best Fantasy.
Third Place:
$25.00 Featured in The Virtual Press Best Fantasy.
Fourth Place:
$10.00 Featured in The Virtual Press Best Fantasy.
Fifth-Tenth Place:
Winners will be strongly considered for publication in The Virtual Press Best Fantasy.
First Place:
$75.00 Featured in The Virtual Press Best Science Fiction.
Second Place:
$50.00 Featured in The Virtual Press Best Science Fiction.
Third Place:
$25.00 Featured in The Virtual Press Best Science Fiction.
Fourth Place:
$10.00 Featured in The Virtual Press Best Science Fiction.
Fifth-Tenth Place:
Winners will be strongly considered for publication in The Virtual Press Best Science Fiction.
Awards, in each of the three categories: $75, $50, $25, $10. Winners will be published in annual anthology. Runners-up in each of the three categories in 5th through 10th place will be considered for publication in anthologies in their respective categories. Deadline: Nov 1.
Address For Submissions:
The Virtual Press Annual Writer's Contest
408 E Division St., Shawano, WI 54166
1. You may enter as many short stories as you like in the categories of Mystery, Fantasy, and Science Fiction. 5,000 words maximum.
2. Each entry must be accompanied by the required entry fee (check or money order drawn on US funds and payable to The Virtual Press). If you are entering more than one short story: all entries may be mailed in the same envelope and one check may be written for the total entry fee.
3. Your entry must have a professional appearance. This means following general submission guidelines. Entries must be typed on one side of 8 1/2" x 11" white paper (computer printouts acceptable) and double-spacing. Your name, address, phone number, competition category, and optionally e-mail address must appear on either a title page or in the upper left or right-hand corner of the first page.
4. Your entry must be original, unpublished, unproduced, not accepted by any other publisher or producer at the time of submission. The Virtual Press retains one-time world and exclusive electronic rights to the first, second, third, and fourth place winning entries in each category. The Virtual Press additionally retains one-time world and exclusive electronic rights to the winners in fifth through tenth place whose stories will be published by The Virtual Press. The Virtual Press retains exclusive rights regarding the contest and cash awards in the single case where the total number of entrants for any contest year are fewer than 50. In this instance: Entries will be carried forward to the following contest year and The Virtual Press will attempt in good faith to notify contest entrants in writing of this occurrence.
5. The 5,000-word maximum will be strictly adhered to. Entries exceeding the word limit will not be considered for awards. Please type the word count on the title page or first page. Be sure to count every single word except the title.
6. Entries must be postmarked by midnight August 31 to be considered for the current year's contest. We cannot acknowledge receipt of entries.
7. All entries meeting the contest criteria will be read. The decisions of The Virtual Press regarding the contest are final.
8. Winners will be announced prior to April 15.
The fastest way to find out if you're a winner is to check the Writer's Gallery.
To give, you an idea of what we look for, here are the four categories our judges score:
Plot: Rating for the quality of the over-all plot (story-line)
Setting: Rating for the quality of the scenes and structures
Characters: Rating for the quality of the characterization.
Dialogue: Rating for the quality of the dialogue.
Address For Submissions:
The Virtual Press Annual Writer's Contest
408 E Division St., Shawano, WI 54166
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