Okay Here's Your Chance, Writers: America's Next Author

[Tsiyu]

Top Prize is $5000. NO entry fee!

I'll be trying this one out, for sure. The first round ends october 9, 2012, so upload your story by then. You can only enter one story so make it a good'n.

Rules are at the link:


http://www.ebookmall.com/americasnextauthor

Do You Have What It Takes?

Step forward and enter this contest if you dare to put your work in front of the world! Readers will be voting for their favorite stories and leaving feedback for authors. Are you up for it? America's Next Author is a fun and exciting new concept for those authors who aren't afraid to get serious feedback about their writing.

Multiple Chances To Win

The competition will have eight nomination rounds in which the top-ranked author of that week will be nominated for the finals. Well-written, engaging stories are important, but authors can also influence their chances of winning by mobilizing their fans online.

Don't have a huge online following? You won't have to depend on the voting public to choose your story. We also have a jury made up of publishing industry professionals that will be monitoring the contest. This jury will be looking for talent that might have been missed, and they will pick four stories as wild cards to send straight to the final rounds.

Boost Your Career

Our panel of judges is made up of experienced professionals from the publishing world, and they will be reading entries and providing authors with valuable feedback. Participation in America's Next Author will be an excellent learning experience for new authors and can give your career and exciting boost


Good Luck, DU WRITERS!

[Pab Sungenis]

1. Be careful.

Their rules state that simply by submitting you grant them publication rights and either surrender or agree to waive all moral rights for your submission. Even if you don't win and don't get paid, you're still granting them publication rights which might preclude you publishing a losing story somewhere else for at least a year.

http://www.ebookmall.com/americasnextauthor/rules - Section 5.

[Tsiyu]

2. Yes, every contest has those pesky conditions

I think they get a year of rights, AND ou do waive moral rights, but the prize and exposure are probably worth the trade-off.

I can knock out a 2000 word story in an afternoon, so I figure it's worth it for the practice and critique alone.

Also have written for educational testing where they buy ALL rights, but I needed the money!

Thanks for the caveat, PS! Happy Writing

[SheilaT]

3. Hmmm. If I can figure out how to end

a story I've been working on, I might submit it here.

[Tsiyu]

4. Go for it

and let us know on DU so we can give you some support!

Good luck.

I'm working on a novel right now ( actually, I'm on DU right now, but I SHOULD be working on the novel! ) and don't know if I have any stories to send, but I may have to spend a little time writing something just for the heck of it.

Have fun

[SheilaT]

5. Some of my best stuff is under 500 words

unfortunately for this contest.

[Tsiyu]

6. NPR (I know- blech )

has a contest for a 600 word story about a US president - real or imagined.

It may have closed (check their website for the three minute fiction contest )

You can check duotrope.com and plug in your word count, topic, etc and they will give you a list of contests.

also, this

http://www.freelancewriting.com/writing-contests.php

has listings as well.

Short fiction is HARD to write, so my hat's off to you!

[SheilaT]

7. I find short to be easier than long.

Although a recently wrote a short story, showed it to someone who then said, "Well, what happens next?" and I think it's turning into a novel. However, actually generating a plot that is a real plot, and not just writing a series of events is hard for me.

I'm aware of the NPR contest, but since I don't listen to them regularly any more, I only intermittently come across it. I may check out the other websites.

[Tsiyu]

8. It takes me at least 600 words

just to get started lol!

Now, songwriting I can do in fewer words, but my long-winded booty just can't seem to do a story in less than 2000 words.

I admire those who can condense a story into a short read. It takes a lot of skill in wordsmithing.