Categories
Short Story: 1,000 words maximum
Poetry: rhymed or unrhymed. 40 lines maximum
Article: 800 word maximum
Devotional: 225 word limit
Children’s Story: 700 word limit
Blog: 500 words limit
Unpublished Book: up to 1,000 words of first chapter and a three-sentence summary of the book’s focus
Traditionally Published Book: Has your book been published by a traditional publisher? Feel free to enter it into this category
Self-Published Book: Whether you uploaded this book to KDP yourself or hired a hybrid or self-publishing company to help.
For published book and self-published book categories, please send a copy of your book and your entry fee to HACWN, 3706 NE Shady Lane Dr., Gladstone, MO 64119. You may pick up your book at the conference–books that are not picked up will be door prizes at HACWN events.
Open to all attendees to the HACWN Conference Nov. 2–4, 2023.
Each attendee may enter all categories as many times as they want. Please make sure you note which category you are entering. Please put contact information in your email and no contact information on your actual document.
Entry Fee: $5.00 for each entry to be emailed to Jeanette Littleton at HACWN.contest@gmail.com. You can pay by check (HACWN, 3706 NE Shady Lane Dr., Gladstone, MO 64119; Paypal: HACWN@earthlink.net, or credit card.)
All entries must be submitted no later October 25, 2023.
Format:
All entries except poetry must be double spaced, 1 inch margins, 12 point, Times New Roman font. In the upper right-hand corner of all pages except the first, put one word of the title in CAPS and then the page number. Don’t put your name on your work. It appears only on the cover sheet.
Cover Sheet: In the upper left-hand corner type your name, address, phone, email. In the upper right-hand corner put the number of words and the category. For poetry, put the number of lines and the category. Center the title halfway down the page.
Winners will be announced at the conference.
Helps:
Short Story: A short short story is a brief piece of fiction pointed and more economically detailed as to character, situation, and plot than a novel. Short stories often revolve around a single theme or 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 the story’s end.
Poetry: 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 artform and should go beyond plain prose to evoke something deeper.
Article: These are the articles listed prominently in a publication (e.g., magazine, newspaper, online, etc.) covering a subject of great interest to that medium’s target audience. The article must clearly have a reason to exist and not simply serve as a vehicle for advertising. Nor should it be a vehicle for presenting the author’s opinion about a particular topic. More than just the facts, a feature article uses a great hook, expert quotes, and a bang-up conclusion to convey its topic. The author’s voice and style give the piece life.
Devotional: Entries to this category usually concern a personal experience or struggle that provides inspiration or hope to others. A profile or personal story should touch the reader in some way, impart a valuable message, and/or educate the reader in some way.
Children’s Story: This is a brief piece of fiction pointed and more economically detailed as to character, situation, and plot than a novel and with a subject matter aimed at children. They often revolve around a single theme or 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 the story’s end.
(Note: Any category not receiving at least four entries will not be judged. If this should happen, those contest fees will be returned.)
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