The entry deadline for this competition has passed. Thank you for your interest!

Compete and Win in all 5 Categories!

The Grand Prize-Winner will receive $2,500 cash, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and the 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer's market.

For entrants paying with a credit card, we will accept manuscripts submitted online.

Compete and Win in 5 Categories!

• Romance
• Mystery/Crime Fiction
• Science Fiction/Fantasy
• Thriller/Suspense
• Horror

Entry Fee: All entries are $12.50

Prizes

Grand Prize: $2,500 cash, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and the 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer's market.

First Prize: The First Place-Winner in each of the five categories receives $500 cash, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books and the 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer's market.

Honorable Mention: Honorable Mentions will receive promotion in Writer's Digest and the 2009 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.

For entrants paying with a credit card, we will accept manuscripts submitted online.

Entry Deadline: Monday, November 03, 2008

Competition Rules

The Categories:

You may enter as many manuscripts as you like in each of the following categories: Romance, Mystery/Crime Fiction, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller/Suspense and Horror. All manuscripts must be 4,000 words or fewer.

Preparing Your Entry:

1. If you are submitting your entry via regular mail, the entry must be accompanied by an Official Entry Form or facsimile, and the required entry fee (credit card information, check or money order made payable to Writer's Digest). If you are entering more than one manuscript, you may mail all entries in the same envelope and write one check for the total entry fee; however, each manuscript must have its category indicated in the upper left-hand corner.
2. Your entry must be original, in English, unpublished and unproduced, not accepted by any other publisher or producer at the time of submission. Writer's Digest retains one-time publication rights to the Grand Prize, First Prize, and Honorable Mention winning entries in each category to be published in a Writer's Digest publication.
3. If you are submitting your entry via regular mail, the entry must be typed on one side of 8-1/2 x 11 white paper (computer printout acceptable) or A4 paper. Manuscripts must be double-spaced. Online entries may lose double-spacing. This WILL NOT result in disqualification. If you are entering via regular mail, your name, address, phone number and competition category must appear in the upper left-hand corner of the first page—otherwise your entry is disqualified. No refunds will be issued for disqualified entries.
4. Be sure of your word count! Entries exceeding the word limit will be disqualified. Type the exact word count (counting every single word, except the title) at the top of the manuscript.
5. Mailed entries must be stapled.

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Judging and Notification

1. Every entry will be read by the judges. Judges' decisions are final.
2. Judges reserve the right to re-categorize entries.
3. Entries must be postmarked by Monday, November 03, 2008. We cannot return submitted manuscripts; however, to receive notification of the receipt of your manuscript, send a self-addressed stamped postcard along with your entry.
4. The following are not permitted to enter the contest: employees of F+W Publications, Inc., and their immediate family members; Writer's Digest contributing editors and correspondents as listed on our masthead; Writer's Online Workshops instructors; and Grand Prize Winners from the previous three years in any Writer's Digest competitions.
5. Top Award Winners will be notified by mail before March 16, 2009. Winners will be listed in the July/August 2009 issue of Writer's Digest.

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Questions?
For questions, contact us at (715) 445-4612 ext. 13430 or email popularfictionawards@fwpubs.com

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Privacy Promise
Occasionally we make portions of our customer list available to other companies so they may contact you about products and services that may be of interest to you. If you prefer we withhold your name, simply send a note with your name, address, and the competition name to: List Manager, F+W Publications, 4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236.

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