You guys are a pretty good writers, so I thought you might be interested in this. Ha-ha, just kidding, most of you people can’t even spell your team names right, but I’m gonna let you in on this anyway. It looks pretty cool.
First Person Arts Announces 6th Annual Memoir Writing Competition
Now Accepting Submissions through August 15th
PHILADELPHIA – First Person Arts, producer of the annual First Person Festival of Memoir and Documentary Art, is pleased to announce the Sixth Annual Memoir Writing Contest. This year, there will be two categories for writers to tackle. Reflecting on the 2007 contest theme, Objects of My Affection, participants will have the option to contribute a Short Memoir (up to 3,000 words), and a Short-Short Memoir, (up to 500 words). Writers will be challenged to shape their stories around a personal relationship to an object or objects that hold a special significance, considering the ways in which the object has impacted, influenced or changed their own lives. [Submission guidelines follow below.]
Submissions for the competition are now being accepted through August 15th. All submissions will be reviewed by an internal panel of First Person Arts readers. The top ten finalists in both categories will be read by a respected panel of editors including Daniel Jones (Editor, Modern Love, New York Times), Caryn Karmatz-Rudy (Executive Editor, Editorial Director, 5 Spot-Warner Books), Laura Mazer (Managing Editor, Seal Press, Avalon Publishing Group, Inc.), and David Borgenicht (President and Publisher, Quirk Books). Winners will be notified on or before October 15, 2007.
First place winners will have their selections published in the Philadelphia City Paper, and all finalists will have their work featured on the Philadelphia City Paper and First Person Arts websites. In addition, winning submissions will be read live by the authors or by readers selected by First Person Arts at a special memoir contest event during the annual First Person Festival (November 7-11, 2007).
Competition Submission Guidelines
Requirements:
Short Memoir Category submissions may be up to 3,000 words and must be double-spaced. Submission fee is $10. Short-Short Memoir Category submissions must be fewer than 500 words and double-spaced. Submission fee is $5. Only one entry per person will be accepted in each category, however, writers have the option to submit entries in both categories. Applicants may win in only one category.
Submission Process
All materials must be received by Thursday, August 15th. Applications are available online at www.memoir.firstpersonarts.org. To enter, fill out an application form with name, contact information, and a short biography. Submissions can be sent via mail or as an email attachment. Send completed application, submission(s), and $5, $10, or $15 payment (money order or bank-certified check payable to First Person Arts) to:
First Person Arts
Attn: Memoir Contest
One South Broad Street, 17th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Online Submissions must be sent as an attachment in a Word document format (.doc) with the subject line “Writing Contest” to memoir@firstpersonarts.org. A check for submission fees must be mailed separately or participants have the option to make a donation online at www.firstpersonarts.org.