Grand Conference Awards
1st Prize $300 2nd Prize $150 3rd Prize $50
1. Showcase Award. Given by the OCW Board of Directors for a short story or essay. 2,500-word limit. Submit your best work. Winning story will be published on the OCW website.
1st Prize $50 2nd Prize $30 3rd Prize $20
Fiction
2. Creative to the Max. Given by Northwest Arkansas Writers for a story, which uses three of the following four words: Mount Kilimanjaro, burro, apple pie, and ripped bodice. Limit 1,500 words.
3. Mid-South Writers Group Award. Given by the Mid-South Writers Group of Cassville, Missouri. Light-hearted ghost story. Spare us the gory details. Limit 1,500 words.
4. 3-3-1 Editor's Delight. Given by Fiction Writers of Central Arkansas. Submit first 3 pages of manuscript, a 3-page synopsis and 1-page jacket copy, all double-spaced, for a novel, any genre.
5. Hightower Award. Given in memory of Harold Hightower by Chrissy Willis and Clarice Hightower for a humorous short story. Limit 2,500 words.
6. Oxbow Award. Given by Dusty Richards for a short story or two chapters of a novel.
7. The Writer's Zone. Given by Kelly Henkins and Dona Fellows for an erotica short story or 1st chapter (limit 10 pages). No restrictions, except proper manuscript format. Limit 2,500 words.
8. Paranormal Romance Award. Given by Jeanie Horn for a paranormal romance. No witchcraft, occult, or devil worship. Limit 2,000 words.
Poetry
9. Japanese Poetry Award. Sponsored by David Kirkland. Submit up to three tankas of no more than 31 syllables each, excluding title. The traditional 5-7-5-7-7 format is not required. Use vivid imagery that lingers.
10. Porter Art Enterprise Poetry Award. Given by Elizabeth (Betty) Porter for a strong contemporary free verse poem. Any length.
Non-Fiction
11. Saturday Writers Creative Non-Fiction Award. Given by Saturday Writers of O'Fallon, Missouri, for a creative non-fiction piece such as a memoir or personal essay. Any topic. Limit 1,000 words.
Book
12. Seven Oaks Publishing Company Book Award. Given by Seven Oaks Publishing Company for the best book published between October 2003 and October 2004, any subject, any genre. One prize $100.
1st Prize $25 2nd Prize $15 3rd Prize $10
Fiction
13. Write Partners of North Arkansas Award. Given by the WPNA for a short story, open genre. Proper manuscript format is essential. Limit 2,000 words.
14. Clouse Literary Arts and Theatre Award. Given for a children's short story. Limit 10 pages or less.
15. Flash Fiction Super Shorts. Given by the Lewis and Clark Superwriters Group from St. Charles, Missouri, for a short-story, any genre, any subject. Limit 199 words, excluding the title.
16. The Storyteller Magazine Award. Given by Regina Williams for a story about best friends. What it means to have a best friend. Can be funny or touching, fiction or non-fiction. Limit 2,500 words.
17. Autumn in Cranky Otter Award. Given by C.J. Winters for a time-travel short story. Any genre except erotica. Limit 2,500 words.
Poetry
18. L & L Poetry Award. Sponsored by Lee Ann Russell and Larry Cunningham for a poem any subject, any form (except free verse or prose poetry), Form must be stated on the entry or be disqualified. 40 line limit.
Non-fiction
19. What Next? Award. Given by the Bank of Eureka Springs for a humorous essay. Limit 1,500 words.
20. The Caudle Memorial Award. Given by Peggy Vining in memory of her mother and father for a humorous incident in family life. Limit 1,200 words.
21. Tickle My Fancy Award. Given in memory of Erma Bombeck by Nita Waxelman for a humorous essay. Limit 300 words.
22. Proud to Be An American Award. Given in memory of Eva Irene Campbell by Neal and Linda Apply for an uplifting patriotic essay about our country, opportunities, and citizens. Limit 600 words.
23. Surprise Contest. To be announced on Friday morning at the conference and awarded Saturday night at the banquet.
CONTEST RULES
1. All entrants must be registered for the conference with fees paid. Each collaborating author must pay the registration fee. Fees must be postmarked on or before August 27, 2005.
2. Only clear copies of manuscripts and poems are acceptable. Entries will not be returned.
3. Winners of First Place cash awards in 2004 may not enter the same contest in 2005, but may enter all others.
4. You may enter each individual contest one time only. All manuscripts or poems must be original and unpublished at the time of entry. (See contest #12 for exceptions)
5. Individual manuscripts or poems can only be entered in one contest. (Example: You could not send the same poem to all poetry contests. However, you could enter all poetry contests as long as you send a different poem to each contest.)
6. All submissions, except poetry, must be double-spaced. No identification may appear on the manuscript or poem except the contest number and title. (See contest #12 for exceptions.)
7. A separate cover page must accompany each entry. Each cover page must include title, name, number of contest, writer's name, address, telephone number, and email (if available).
8. Judges may not enter the contest they judge but may enter all others. OCW board members may not enter any contests. Members of writers' organizations may not enter a contest judged by their group, but may enter all others.
9. At the discretion of the OCW, Inc. Board of Directors, contestants found in violation of any of the above will be disqualified. In the case of a clear rule infraction such as plagiarism, contestants will be barred from entering this and all future OCW contests.
10. All decisions are final and judges' names are confidential. Correspondence with judges is prohibited.
11. All entries must be postmarked on or before August 27, 2005.
12. Any of this material may be photocopied or distributed to interested writers.
13. Winners' names will be posted at http://www.ozarkcreativewriters.org/
14. Mail contest entries and registration card together or separately to: Chrissy Willis, Ozark Creative Writers, ETSU-Box 23115, Johnson City, TN 37614. or 2603 W. Walnut, Johnson City, TN 37604.
Questions may be directed to: ozarkcreativewriters@earthlink.net or 423-929-1049.