Annual Poetry and Prose Contests, each worth $5,250. Very small entry fees.

This page currently provides details of the $5,250 Tom Howard Short Story & Prose Contest closing March 31, 2009, and of the $5,250 Margaret Reid Poetry Prize closing June 30, 2008

JOHN HOWARD REID &TOM HOWARD WRITING CONTESTS INFORMATION

Each year, John Howard Reid and Tom Howard Books sponsor three writing Contests. These Contests are open to all writers worldwide, although please note that all entries must be written in English.

In order of annual closing dates, these contests are:

1. The $5,250 John Howard Reid & Tom Howard Short Story, Essay and Prose Contest, deadline March 31, 2009. Entries for Contest 17 will be accepted from August 15, 2008. Please scroll down for further information.

2. The $5,250 Margaret Reid Poetry Prize for Traditional Verse, closing June 30, 2008. Entries are now being accepted. Please scroll down for details.

3. The Tom Howard Poetry Contest for Verse in All Styles & Genres, closing September 30, 2008. Entries are now being accepted. Please click this link for further information: http://tomhowardpoetry.bravepages.com

Here's absolute-must reading for all who wish to succeed in literary contests and writing competitions! A new edition of my famous handbook "WRITE WAYS TO WIN WRITING CONTESTS: How to Join the Winners' Circle for Short Story Awards, Poetry Prizes, etc." is available direct from Lulu at http://www.lulu.com/filmindex

Price is $14.99. The book trade edition is also now available. Buy from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other bookstores. Same price. Buy this book now! What's $14.99 compared to increasing your chances of carrying off that $2,000 in cash First Prize?

The 17th annual John Howard Reid & Tom Howard Short Story, Essay and Prose Contest will open August 15, 2008.

$5,250 total prize pool!

First Prize: $2,000

Second Prize: $1,000

Third Prize: $500. Fourth prize: $250

Plus Five High Distinction Awards of $200 each. Plus five Most Highly Commended Awards of $100 each.

Please note that the judges will endeavor to award at least one of the cash prizes this year to a humorous story, essay or article.

Your story or prose piece should be no longer than 5,000 words. There is no minimum length. Closing date, March 31, 2009. You can enter a story that has already been published or even won prizes in other contests (so long as you hold the anthology and online publication rights). Unpublished stories are certainly most welcome too!

All fourteen winning stories/essays will be published on the WINNING WRITERS web site. At his discretion, the publisher may also from time to time offer selected winning works print publication in an Anthology. WRITERS ARE COMPLETELY FREE TO ACCEPT OR DECLINE SUCH AN INVITATION.

It is a good idea to read some of the previous winning stories and essays included in the latest anthology, "WATCHING TIME", especially as the very same judges will adjudicate this year's contest. However, the trade edition of the book has now completely sold out and it is currently unavailable at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and most other booksellers (although one shop does have it on sale for no less than $145.00). The good news, however, is that proof copies of the book are still available direct from the publisher. You can buy direct for $12.95 by following this link and then scrolling right down the page to the very bottom:

http://www.lulu.com/filmindex

You can also PREVIEW the book free of charge at Lulu. I don't recall exactly how many of the fifteen winning entries are available this way, but you can certainly read some of them.

Reviewer Emanuel Dinone writes: You know the stories in "Watching Time" are the best of the best, because they are all award-winning, and the collection does not disappoint.

Entry forms are not necessary, but by entering this contest you agree to abide by all its conditions. Decisions by the Chief Judge are final.

You retain all rights and are free to accept or decline any offers of print publication.

ENTRY FEE: $12 per story/essay.

Maximum length: 5,000 words.

No minimum length requirements. No restrictions on the type or theme of the stories or prose pieces you may submit. Send as many entries as you like!

Entries must be postmarked on or before March 31, 2009, or lodged online before midnight, March 31, 2009, Pacific Time.

Online submission using your credit card or PayPal is available at Winning Writers. Please use this link: http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/tomstory/ts_guidelines.php

Postal submissions may be sent to Winning Writers, Attention Tom Howard Short Story Contest, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060-3961, USA.

Chief judge: John Howard Reid. Associate judge: Dee C. Konrad.

Entry fee: $6 for every 25 lines (or part thereof). Blank lines and titles are not counted.

Send as many poems as you like. No restrictions on length or subject matter. Poems must be your original work, but previously published verse and poems that have won prizes in other contests are welcome. "Traditional Verse" is loosely defined, and includes free verse, haiku, sonnets, odes, ballads and most other popular forms except prose poems and storoems. A good rule of thumb is that your entries should look like poetry (or like any of the 106 winning and commended poems published in our latest anthology "SAILING IN THE MIST OF TIME". This book normally retails for $16.50, but Amazon currently have it "on special" for only $9.95. Please click the link just above the "5th Annual Margaret Reid Prize" title).

Entry forms are not necessary, but by entering this contest you agree to abide by all its conditions. Decisions by the chief judge are final.

You retain all rights and are free to accept or decline any offers of print publication. However, you must agree to publication of your winning entry on the Winning Writers website.

Entries must be postmarked on or before June 30, 2008, or lodged online before midnight, June 30, 2008, Pacific Time.