Contest Connection
In This Issue
Fall 2010 Contest Winners Announced
Winter 2011 Contest
Featured Article
Flash Fiction Drama Girl
The Contest Conundrum: What Are Flash Fiction Contest Judges Looking For?

By LuAnn Schindler
 
If you've ever entered one of our contests or are thinking about entering, this article takes you behind the scenes of a flash fiction critique. With the permission of a flash fiction writer, we share a sample story and walk you through the critique process. You'll see how judges score entries, examine content components such as universal story pattern, and what they look for in technical aspects. Learn by example from this article, and then get to work crafting your flash fiction!

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The Do-It-Yourselfer's Guide to Self-Syndication by Jill Pertler

 

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Tuesdays are contest winner interview days! Learn from other flash fiction writers and find out what inspires their stories.

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Featured Article
Mandy Vicsai
How to Cut Your Flash Fiction Contest Entry Down to Size

By Mandy Vicsai

Mark Twain said "I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead." This is especially true for stories of 500 words. Yet shorter stories can be punchier, more focused and as a writer more fulfilling because of the challenge they present.

This article gives you seven practical ways to cull your words to the required count. It's based on my story Strange Doin's, winner of WOW!'s Fall 2006 Competition.

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The results are in! 
FALL 2010 FLASH FICTION CONTEST WINNERS

Greetings!

We're pleased to announce the results of the Fall 2010 Flash Fiction Contest!

What a pleasure it's been to read the stories of so many talented writers. Our guest judges did not have an easy time. The diversity of the stories in style, genre, and structure led to careful deliberation.

A big thank you goes to our guest judge, literary agent Wendy Sherman, for her time and effort spent choosing this season's top winners.

Results: So, without further ado, let's read the winning stories! Visit the  Fall 2010 Flash Fiction Contest Winners' Page.

Critiques: If you purchased a critique for the Fall '10 contest, you should receive an email with your critique attached as a Microsoft Word .doc shortly. Our contest manager is sending them out one at a time this week, so keep a look out for it. It will be coming from [email protected].

Winter 2011 Contest: Don't forget the Winter 2011 Flash Fiction Contest ends this month, February 28th. So dig out those stories and send them on in! We're no where near our 300 mark, so your chances are excellent.

Enjoy!

Fall 2010 Flash Fiction Contest Winners Announced!
Drum roll...     Fall '10 Flash Fiction WinnersCongratulations goes to everyone who entered the Fall '10 Flash Fiction Contest. All of your entries were incredible this round, and our esteemed guest judge, literary agent Wendy Sherman, did not have an easy job! But with her expertise, she dutifully picked the winners.

I know you've all been waiting patiently, so here's the results!

- 1st Place Winner:
A Cup of Coffee by Cynthia Larsen

- 2nd Place Winner: Last Words by Lisa Daly

- 3rd Place Winner: A Chinese Haircut by Linda Lisa McGrew

7 Runners Up (in no particular order):

- Asunder by Michele Roach

- December by Kelly Stone Gamble

- Easter Treasure by Alice O'Brien

- Mother-Daughter Clothes by Jeanne Bereiter

- Low-Hanging Fruit by Dawn Curtis

- Shave and a Haircut by Eileen Granfors

- A Relationship with Food by Janel Gradowski

Read the Top 10 Winners' stories in our contest feature!

15 Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):

- M is for Murder? by Amy Pocha
- The Color of Food by Nancy Berliner
- The Rainbow-Colored Rabbit by Brenda Liebling-Goldberg
- Just Another Game of Marbles by Jacqueline Winn
- Split Set by Diane D. Gillette
- Special Sucks by Jennifer Curran
- Perfect Image by Shelley Bartolazzi
- The Enigmatic Burqa Lady by Sobia Azhar Khan
- Enforced Protection by Suzannah Burke
- A Woman's Best Friend by Patti Cavaliere
- Jo's Place by Shelley Jewell
- The Jib by Cathy Moran
- Notes from the Old Motel by Monette Chilson
- Picnic at Dealey Plaza by Amanda C. Grossman
- Run by Carolyn Menke

Congratulations to all the winners! And congratulations to everyone who hit the send button. We know it's not easy, but each season provides a rebirth of opportunity!

So, go on already! Read the stories  here.

Notes: As we mentioned above, if you purchased a critique for the Fall '10 contest, we will be sending critiques one at a time over the next week. If you haven't received your critique in a couple of weeks (make sure you check your bulk mail), please send us an e-mail and we'll resend.

Prizes: All prizes this season are digital, so we will be sending gift cards, e-books, and cash prizes electronically this week. Thank you!


Winter 2011 Flash Fiction Contest

Literary Agent Elaine Spencer Deadline: February 28, 2011 (Midnight, Pacific Time)

Guest Judge: Literary Agent Elaine Spencer

About Elaine: Elaine Spencer joined The Knight Agency in 2005 after graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in Literature and Economics. Originally acting as assistant to agency president Deidre Knight, and as TKA's submissions coordinator, Elaine went on to begin building her own dynamic client list in 2006 and has since sold over 50 titles. Elaine now represents a diverse list of adult and young adult authors, and handles all of the sub-rights' licensing for the Knight Agency's 150+ client list as well as acting as the agency's general business manager. Her diverse experience makes her well qualified to juggle both the artistic and the contractual sides of the business, and she prides herself on the one-on-one attention and personal relationships that she is able to develop with each of her clients.

As an avid reader Elaine is willing to try any author once. Regardless of genre, she is most interested in a unique voice that captivates readers in the opening pages. Elaine is most actively acquiring young adult and middle grade fiction, women's fiction, romance (all subgenres), engaging commercial fiction and narrative non-fiction.

Elaine is not interested in children's or picture books, horror, poetry, screenplays, short story collections, history, westerns, straight fantasy or science-fiction.

Elaine currently lives in Athens, Georgia. In her spare time she can most likely be found curled up poolside with a good book and her beloved Westie, Claude. To learn more about Elaine and the Knight Agency please visit www.knightagency.net.

Open Prompt

Word Count: 750 Max; 250 Min

Limit: 300 Entries

Note: We raised the 1st & 2nd Place cash prizes this season! 


Don't wait until the last minute! Enter today. Visit the Contest Page and download the terms & conditions ebook (PDF). Good luck! 

 

We hope you enjoy reading all the wonderful stories that these ladies put their hearts into writing. Congratulations goes out to each and every one of you.

Whatever you do, never give up. Follow your dreams and go for the writing gold!

 

Write on!

 

Angela, Anne & Team WOW!
WOW! Women On Writing

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