WOW! Teams Up With SEAL PRESS!
WOW! Women On Writing is proud to partner with Seal Press to bring you an exciting contest season. We’re thrilled to have Seal Press as a sponsor for our Spring 2008 Flash Fiction Contest.
[About Seal Press]
Inspired by the simple yet radical notion that a book can change a woman’s life, Seal Press is devoted to publishing titles that inform, reveal, engage, delight, and support women of all ages and backgrounds.
Seal Press was founded in 1976 as a small DIY publisher to provide a forum for women writers and feminist issues, and since then, Seal has published groundbreaking books that represent the diverse voices and interests of women. Seal’s continually growing list includes books about women’s health, parenting, outdoor adventure and travel literature, popular culture, sexuality, gender and transgender life, sports, relationships, memoir, careers, finance, current affairs, and much more.
With each book, we strive to make a difference in women’s everyday lives, and to tell the truth—the real truth—about the issues that matter to women the most.
Seal Press is a proud member of The Perseus Books Group. Visit their website: www.sealpress.com, sign up for their newsletter, and keep up with the latest by visiting their blog: www.sealpress.com/blog.
-------
SPRING 2008 FLASH FICTION CONTEST
OVERVIEW:
WOW! hosts a (quarterly) writing contest every three months. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, communication, and well-rewarded recognition to contestants. The contest is open globally; age is of no matter; and entries must be in English. We are open to all styles of writing, although we do encourage you to take a close look at our guest judge for the season (upper right hand column) and the flavor of our sponsor, if you are serious about winning. We love creativity, originality, and light-hearted reads. That's not to say that our guest judge will feel the same... so go wild! Express yourself, and most of all, let's have some fun!
WORD COUNT:
Maximum: 500
Minimum: 250
The title is not to be counted in your word count. We use MS Word's word count to determine the submitted entry's word count.
PROMPT:
OPEN PROMPT!
Last quarter we enjoyed reading your diverse stories, so we’re doing it again! That’s right, this is your chance to shine, and get creative. You can write about anything, as long as it’s within the word count and fiction. So, dig out those stories you started way back when and tailor them to the word count.
We’re open to any style and genre. From horror to romance! So, get creative, and most of all, have fun.
CONTEST DEADLINES:
SPRING 2008: March - May 31st, Midnight (Pacific Time) - NOW OPEN!
WINTER 2007: December 2007 - February 28th 2008, Midnight (Pacific Time) - CLOSED
FALL 2007: September - November 30th Midnight (Pacific Time) - CLOSED
SUMMER 2007: June - August 31st, Midnight (Pacific Time) - CLOSED
ENTRY FEE: $5.00
Buy Entry Only: $5.00
OR
Buy Entry with Critique: $10.00
NEW! ADDITIONAL OPTION: Due to popular demand, we now have two options for your entry. For an additional $5.00 you can now purchase a critique of your contest entry.
Upon the close of our contest, you will receive a critique from one of our round table judges on four categories:
- Style
- Subject
- Content
- Technical
You will be provided with your scores (1-5) in each category, and personal editorial feedback for each category as well. Please be patient upon the close of our contest and allow time for our editors to thoroughly critique your piece. Please note: you will not receive your critique until AFTER the contest winners are announced (which is typically one month after the contest closes). Since this is new for us, we don’t know how many contestants will choose this option, but we will keep you updated each step of the way.
PRIZES: 35 WINNERS TOTAL!
FIRST PLACE:
- $200.00 cash prize
- Seal Press Goodie Bag
- Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing
- $50 Gift Certificate to the WOW! Boutique
- 1 Year Subscription to the Premium-Green Markets Community
- Interview on the WOW! Women On Writing Blog
SECOND PLACE:
- $150.00 cash prize
- Seal Press Goodie Bag
- Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing
- $50 Gift Certificate to the WOW! Boutique
- 1 Year Subscription to the Premium-Green Markets Community
- Interview on the WOW! Women On Writing Blog
THIRD PLACE:
- $100.00 cash prize
- Seal Press Goodie Bag
- Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing
- $50 Gift Certificate to the WOW! Boutique
- 1 Year Subscription to the Premium-Green Markets Community
- Interview on the WOW! Women On Writing Blog
7 RUNNERS UP:
- Seal Press Goodie Bag
- Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing
- 1 Year Subscription to the Premium-Green Markets Community
- Interview on the WOW! Women On Writing Blog
25 HONORABLE MENTIONS:
- Seal Press Goodie Bag
- Name, state, and title entry published on WOW! Women On Writing
Click to Download the SPRING 2008 FLASH FICTION Contest Terms & Conditions PDF
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF. Download the latest version at http://www.adobe.com
Please read the contest terms & conditions in full before submitting your entry. This time we’ve included an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section based on the questions we’ve received in the past.
Please Note: Previous winners who placed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd are allowed to reenter all contests!
Best of luck!
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
Winter 2008 Flash Fiction Contest
Fall 2007 Essay Contest
Summer 2007 Flash Fiction Contest
Spring 2007 Flash Fiction Contest
Winter 2006 Flash Fiction Contest
Fall 2006 Flash Fiction Contest
QUOTES FROM CONTESTANTS:
“I received my prize package today and I can't stop saying "wow!” The goodies were AMAZING, and so much of it! I love everything, the shirt and the hat will be proudly worn when I kayak, and the adorable totes will be used for writing materials! A timer, a bookmark, such wonderful books. WOW! I just can't thank you enough.
Your site is so supportive and warm hearted, I feel like I have found the sisters I never had! Your personal attention to every detail makes it so special that I think even the most astute writer would have a hard time putting my heartfelt gratitude into words. Thanks again for everything. You have given me more than you know.”
- Dianne Greco, Port Jefferson, New York
“I wanted to thank you for the gifts from my honourable mention, which arrived yesterday. I was ‘tickled pink’ by the thoughtfulness behind every gift.
On another note, I want to congratulate you for the wonderful job you do every day. When I enter your website, a feeling of grace, kindness, and generosity of spirit prevails. It is inspiring to feel those sentiments when all I’ve done is punch a few keys to order the fiber optics to display your site.”
- Evelyn Marentette, Ontario, Canada
“This award, and being published on the WOW website, made it feel official; I really am a writer!... a special thanks to the staff and editors of WOW...and reading the past winners’ stories is an excellent way to hone your own writing skills.”
- Donna Wilkins, New Mexico
“Thank-you so much again for the services you are rendering by running this website, the contest and all that you do. You have to be the most encouraging people I have ever met!”
- Jane Johnson, Kansas
“Your contests help spur some of us writers who have our hands full with so many other things to make out time for our writing.”
- Ubong-Abasi Johnathan, Ontario, Canada
“Thank you so much for the generous gifts to honorable mentions like myself! Very motivational. Cheers to WOW!”
- M.L. Cordle, Virginia
“Thank you for having a challenging word length. I also love the way you communicate with your writers. You really appreciate the time and effort that everyone puts into their entries. It’s a pleasure to read your emails and your website.”
- Mandy Vicsai, Australia
“I just wanted to send a quick note to say, "thank you". I was one of the Honorable Mention Winners in the Flash Fiction Winter Contest and the goodies y'all sent me as a prize were so wonderful and thoughtful. When I opened the package, the care and consideration were obvious and it was tremendously appreciated.”
- Kristen Lamb, Texas
“Thank you sooooo very much for your gift I received in the mail yesterday. I am sure everyone else was as touched as I was to receive the great WOW bag and goodies inside of it. I know you put a lot of work into making these gifts very special and I could tell right away. You guys are somethin' else. I'll cherish these gifts always and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. God bless you!!!”
- Jennifer Daniels, Alabama
“I received the big (!) box today with my honorable mention prize for my submission to the winter flash fiction contest (my story: TP-ing Casa de Clooney). Thank you so much for such a generous prize. It was such a nice surprise, arriving as it did on a Monday after a long day at work. I'm thrilled.
Thanks again, not just for the great prize, but also for a such a well-run contest.”
- Charity Tahmaseb, Minnesota
** Visit the WOW! Women On Writing Blog to keep up with the latest in contestant interviews on Tuesdays!
** Please subscribe to our email newsletter (subscription box located on the top right of every page) to keep up with the latest contest info and developments from WOW!
Do you have a question about the contest? Send us an email and we’ll get back to you: contestinfo@wow-womenonwriting.com. Please make sure that the question isn’t already answered in the contest terms & conditions. Thank you!
