A writing contest for high school students (in 9th - 12th grades) sponsored by the BYU English Department
Procedure and Rules
1. Prizes in each category--fiction, poetry, personal essay, and
critical essay--will be $100.00 for first place, $60.00 for second
place, and $40.00 for third place. (Subject to change.)2. The contest is open to any student regularly enrolled in high school or the equivalent. First place winners of one year's contest are not eligible for prizes the following year.
3. Each contestant may submit one entry in each category.
4. New this year: Entries will be accepted electronically only. Please carefully follow the instructions. Send entries to byurewritingcontest@gmail.com. Include in the subject line the category of the entry (short fiction, poetry, personal essay, or critical essay). In the body of the message include the following information: The title of the entry; the author's full name (which should not appear in the work itself), mailing address, e-mail address; school name and address and principal or headmaster’s name; a statement that the entry is the original work of the contestant and has not been previously published. Attach the entry (Word documents only). Any entries that are not consistent with these instructions will be disqualified.
5. Each entry should represent the writer's best work and should meet acceptable standards in grammar, mechanics, punctuation, and usage. The entry itself should not include the author's name. Entries containing offensive language and violence will not be considered.
6. Short fiction entries should be between 1,000 and 4,000 words long. Indicate the approximate number of words at the top of the document, upper right corner.
7. Poetry entries may be in any verse form and may consist of one poem or a group of poems totaling 25 to 60 lines. Indicate the number of lines at the top of the document, upper right corner.
8. Personal essays may be from 700 to 2,500 words long. Indicate the approximate number of words at the top of the document, upper right corner.
9. Critical essays may be from 700 to 2,500 words long and include proper documentation if any is needed. Indicate the approximate number of words at the top of the document, upper right corner.
10. Entries will not be returned, critiqued, or published. Contestants, of course, should keep copies of their entries.
11. Judges for the contest will evaluate entries solely on the basis of literary quality. If the judges feel that no entry has sufficient merit, they may choose not to award prizes.
12. Winners will be announced and prizes awarded in spring.
13. Deadline for submissions: December 15, 2013.
