The annual contest entries are due by the March 2, 2017 EWC meeting. Please bring your entries with you to the meeting in a manila folder with your name on the outside. All entries must be printed with no name on the outside. It costs $10 to enter as many categories as you want. Contest open to members of the Enid Writers Club only.
CONTEST CATEGORIES
There are 34 categories for OWFI contest. We chose to keep our small group at 11 categories and not totally mirror OWFI but hoped to update our contest to keep up with current trends.
- Short Story 2000 – 4000 word limit
- Essay 2000 word limit
- Flash Fiction 500 word limit
- Poetry: Rhymed 50 line limit
- Poetry: Unrhymed 50 line limit
- Inspiration: Article 3000 word limit
- Memoir 2000 -4000 word limit
- Humor 2000 word limit
- Juvenile Short Story: Fiction Ages 7-9 600 word limit
Ages 8-12 1000 word limit
10 Young Adult Short Story: Fiction Ages 12-18 1500 – 2000 words
- Picture Book: Fiction or non-Fiction Ages 1-8 750 word limit
Descriptions of Categories
Short Story (Fiction) – A short story is a brief piece of fiction pointed and more economically detailed as to character, situation, and plot than a novel. They often revolve around a single theme, one climactic event developing a single character in depth. Narrower than a novel, a short story contains these basic elements characters, setting, plot, conflict, resolution, climax, dialogue, protagonist, and antagonist. All short stories should present the major character with an important problem that the character must struggle to solve, and engage the reader in caring about whether the character achieves that goal by story’s end. 2000- 4000 words.
Essay (Any subject of contemporary interest) – Essays are personal opinion pieces using narrative form to convince the reader of a certain point of view, or at least to better understand that writer’s view. There are formal, fact-driven essays (George Will), and informal, lighter essays (Erma Bombeck). Bear in mind the quality and logic of the argument and how well the author uses facts, reasoning, and literary tools such as analogy to convince. Sometimes an opinion can be presented, a point of view expressed, an argument driven home in a novel or unusual way by telling a story or seeming to take the opposite point of view, or a fable with a clear moral at the end. Limit 2000 words.
Flash Fiction – An extremely short but complete work of fiction. As with longer stories, a flash fiction story must contain the four elements of fiction: setting (which is usually implied rather than fully described), one or more characters, a conflict, and a resolution. Because of the length limitations, these stories often make use of suggestion and innuendo. This is fiction at its barest, most essential form every word must move the story forward. Stories submitted in this category should be targeted to an adult audience. Limit 500 words.
Poetry Rhymed – Any theme, any form. A poem is characterized by intense, compressed language. Every word is carefully chosen. A poem can tell a story, create an image, or evoke an emotion. In all cases, it is an art form and should go beyond plain prose to evoke something deeper. 50 line limit.
Poetry Un-Rhymed – Any theme, any form. A poem is characterized by intense, compressed language. Every word is carefully chosen. A poem can tell a story, create an image, or evoke an emotion. In all cases, it is an art form and should go beyond plain prose to evoke something deeper. 50 line limit.
Inspiration: Article – Should concern a personal experience or struggle, which provides inspiration or hope to others. A profile or personal story should touch the reader in some way and/or impart a valuable message and/or educate the reader in some way. Not necessarily religious in nature, the piece should strive to inspire and motivate the reader. It may be a vehicle for presenting the author’s opinion about a particular topic that has personally affected him or her, and may also include a call to action. The author’s style or “voice” gives the piece life. Limit 3000 words.
Memoir – Stories that focus on down-home occurrences reflecting the past, these pieces evoke a fond remembrance of a time gone by, or memories of childhood. Common interest is the goal here. 2000 – 4000 word limit.
Humor – Humor is exactly that: a piece of writing meant to evoke humor. Everyday experiences can resonate with the reader, or common interest stories when written in a clever and entertaining voice bring forth a smile. The humor piece should also meet the criteria of it form: column, short story, article/feature, poetry or essay. Manuscripts submitted in this category should be targeted toward an adult audience. Limit 2000 word limit.
Juvenile Short Story: Fiction (for readers age 7-9) – A Juvenile short story is a brief piece of fiction pointed and more economically detailed as to character, situation, and plot than a novel with a subject matter aimed at children. They often revolve around a single theme, one climactic event developing a single character in depth. Narrower than a novel, a short story contains these basic elements characters, setting, plot, conflict, resolution, climax, dialogue, protagonist and antagonist. All short stories should present the major character with an important problem that the character must struggle to solve, and engage the reader in caring about whether the character achieves that goal by story’s end. Limit 600 words.
Juvenile Short Story: Fiction (for readers age 8-12) – A Juvenile short story is a brief piece of fiction pointed and more economically detailed as to character, situation, and plot than a novel with a subject matter aimed at children. They often revolve around a single theme, one climactic event developing a single character in depth. Narrower than a novel, a short story contains these basic elements characters, setting, plot, conflict, resolution, climax, dialogue, protagonist and antagonist. All short stories should present the major character with an important problem that the character must struggle to solve, and engage the reader in caring about whether the character achieves that goal by story’s end. Limit 1000 words.
Young Adult Short Story: Fiction (for readers age 12-18) – A YA short story is a brief piece of fiction pointed and more economically detailed as to character, situation, and plot than a novel. They often revolve around a single theme, one climactic event developing a single character single theme, one climactic event developing a single character in depth. Narrower than a novel, a short story contains these basic elements: characters, setting, plot, conflict, resolution, climax, dialogue, protagonist, and antagonist. All short stories should present the major character with an important problem that the character must struggle to solve, and engage the reader in caring about whether the character achieves that goal by story’s end. 1500 to 2000 words.
Picture Book: Fiction or Non-Fiction for ages 1-8 – Picture books are large art-filled books for children, but are also appealing to older kids and even adults. They are designed to bring information and/or entertainment to life for young eyes, and the text must be minimal. These books have a beginning, middle and end. Picture books do not necessarily feature a character, but when they do the protagonist must solve his or her own problem and the problem should be something significant. Often a picture book portrays a concept such as numbers, letters, weather, colors, etc. Picture books may also evoke a mood, such as a bedtime story. These books should be engaging and present the topic in a fresh, child-like way. (Show, don’t tell). Limit 750 words.
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