San Mateo County Fair Writing Contests in 2013

SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR: 2013

Literary Arts entries will be accepted from writers inside AND outside of California. Please note that our NEW DEADLINE for all literary contests is 7 pm on Monday, April 1, 2013. When you fill out your entry form, ignore any reference to a later date. The literary contest deadline really is April 1. The deadline for other types of contests is after April 1. Late entries are not allowed for all literary divisions, NDNU scholarship and the book cover art contests. For a complete list of contest division rules and categories, go to: https://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/pdf/2013/literary_13.pdf

Enter and get published.

“CARRY THE LIGHT” – THE SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR LITERARY ANTHOLOGY will be published by Sand Hill Review Press http://sandhillreviewpress.com.

Be part of this year’s literary anthology and you will be a published author in a 6” x 9” soft cover trade paperback that you can purchase at the fair as well as on Amazon.com! Special Note: In exchange for being published by Sand Hill Review Press in a soft cover trade paperback, entrants will authorize their work to be printed without compensation, and will retain all ownership rights. Writers are invited to participate in local promotions and book signings.

NOTE: If you do not wish to be included in this anthology, you must click the designated box on the online entry or choose to OPT OUT on the paper entry form. Entrants under the age of 18 must provide parental permission.

Theme: Carry the Light is the published anthology of short story, poetry, essay, and sponsored contest submissions. Themes range from free form poetry to science fiction short stories to personal essays, all of which tell a story. Do you have such a story to share?

Every entrant will have a minimum of one piece published; publisher will print as many multiple winners’ submissions as the 300 page format allows.

Note: We also offer a cover art contest for this anthology in the fine arts dept.

PREORDER NOW on the entry form available in the contest book or on our fair website to ensure your copy at the special promo price of $10.00 (DEADLINE is May 8, 2013) Only a limited number of anthology books will be for sale during the fair at this price.

Carry the Light will be available in June to purchase online at Amazon.com. See last year’s anthology book www.amazon.com/Carry-Light-Stories-Essays-County

There will be an Anthology Book Signing Event: day and time tba on www.sanmateocountyfair.com you do not need to purchase a book in order to attend.

CONTEST DIVISIONS
This is a partial list. For a complete list go to https://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/pdf/2013/literary_13.pdf.

DIVISION 321 – DIGITAL MEDIA PODCAST CONTEST

AWARD OFFERED 1st Place $100 Rosette

Definition of Podcast: a prerecorded digital audio program similar to a radio broadcast. An entrant can record a reading of his/her story, poetry, or short play that can then be downloaded onto a computer, mp3 player, or smart phone.

RULES:

1. Submit podcasted audio stories/essays/plays/poetry/commentary in mp3 format, minimum length 10 minutes, maximum 20 minutes, no exceptions (approx. 1,000-2,500 words).

2. This 10-20 minute time includes any music played before and after the verbal presentation as well as sound effects used.

3. The author/podcaster must agree the work submitted is of his/her own creation, fits all of the above guidelines, and its content is not graphic or sexually explicit per San Mateo County Fair rules. Music and sound effects must be created by the author/podcaster, licensed from an online provider (such as Soundsnap, Sounddogs, partnersinrhyme, etc.), or available in the public domain.

4. Email your podcast link to literary@smeventcenter.com

CLASS:

Digital Media Podcast

NOTE:

Award-winning author and podcaster Laurel Anne Hill will post submissions (per entrants’ permission) on her podcast site Welcome to My Bedroom Closet https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/welcome-to-my-bedroom-closet/id331538997 during the duration of the fair, giving entrants a publication credit and would make their pieces available on iTunes.

DIVISION 322 – MEMOIR

AWARDS OFFERED

1st Place $50 Rosette
2nd Place $35 Rosette
3rd Place $20 Rosette

SPECIAL NOTE: Definition of a memoir from about.com : “A form of creative nonfiction recounting a specific experience(s) from his or her life,” shows how he or she was affected, and comes to an understanding or lesson learned.

THEME: Open to all topics such as childhood memories, travel, humor or food tales, spiritual journeys, career, parenting, etc. You can also choose the prior memoir contest theme “Light of my life: a mentor who showed me the way.”

RULES:

1. This first person narrative needs a cohesive beginning, middle and ending; and can include dialogue; but it should not read like a standard fiction piece or it will be moved to the short story division.

2. Memoir must NOT have been entered in a previous San Mateo County Fair Competition, whether it won or not.

3. The entry must be less than 1,500 words and must have a title.

CLASS:

1. Memoir

DIVISION 323 – PHILLIP’S WILD AFRICA

Sponsored by www.STEMdelivered.org

AWARDS OFFERED
1st Place $100 Rosette
2nd Place $50 Rosette
3rd Place $25 Rosette

CLASS:

1. Fiction or Non-fiction stories should capture some aspect of the natural world: geology (volcanoes, earthquakes), weather (hurricanes, blizzards) or wildlife.

2. The story must be less than 2,000 words

3. The story must be titled

4. Stories must be appropriate for all ages to read

DIVISION 325 – “HEROES ARISE” SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY NOVEL CHAPTER

Sponsored by Laurel Anne Hill, author of Heroes Arise (KOMENAR PUBLISHING) www.laurelannehill.com

AWARDS OFFERED
1st Place $100 Rosette
2nd Place $50 Rosette
3rd Place $25 Rosette

Eligibility: Submit chapter one (max 7,500 words) of your unpublished science fiction or fantasy novel (NO SYNOPSIS OR PROLOGUE). NOTE: anthology publisher may excerpt submissions longer than 4,000 words if page space is limited.

CLASS:

1. “Hero’s Arise” Science Fiction/Fantasy Novel Chapter

DIVISION 327 – “I’M DYING TO TELL YOU” MYSTERY NOVEL CHAPTER

Sponsored by Frank M. Kahren, author of Brand Loyalty and the Matt Rommel mysteries www.fmkahren.com

AWARDS OFFERED
1st Place $100 Rosette
2nd Place $50 Rosette
3rd Place $25 Rosette

Theme: Great first chapters from talented unpublished, independently produced, and/or self-published mystery novelists.

Eligibility: Submit maximum 3,000 words of the first chapter of your unpublished mystery novel. All mystery sub-genres (cozy, hard boiled, soft boiled, noir, etc.) are welcome.

CLASS:

1. “I’m Dying To Tell You” Chapter

DIVISION 328 – THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE: NOVEL, MEMOIR, SHORT STORY, OR MONOLOGUE

Sponsored by writing coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan www.writingcoachTeresa.com
Author of Love Made of Hear (novel) and Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase in 22 Days (workbook)

AWARDS OFFERED
1st Place $100 Rosette
2nd Place $50 Rosette
3rd Place $25 Rosette

This contest is to honor immigrants who triumph over stigmas and injustice. Your entry could be a firsthand account or a retelling of someone else’s experience. Please study your genre by re-reading your favorite author’s works.

Eligibility: Submit first 1,500 words of your unpublished novel, memoir, or biography (no synopsis or prologue please) or a <1,500 word unpublished short story, essay or monologue.

CLASS:

Immigrant Experience

DIVISION 308 – THE GRAPHIC NOVEL

Sponsored by the Peninsula Arts Council www.peninsulaartscouncil.org

AWARD OFFERED

1st. Place $125 Rosette and a one year membership to the Peninsula Arts Council

Graphic novels have emerged as a growing segment of book publishing and powerfully attract and motivate more people to read. Graphic novels are books written and illustrated in the style of a comic book. They are “sequential art” consisting of text and a series of illustrations that tell a story.

Entries will be judged on quality of story content and artistic craft.

Eligibility: Amateur and professional graphic novelists should submit a copy of their graphic novel (not their original) for review. Note: anthology publisher cannot publish entry in its entirety; an excerpt will be chosen with a panel of black/white illustrations but author’s website will be referenced

Youth enter in Division 743. All information for youth entering The Graphic Novel is available in the Youth Exhibits Department.

CLASS:

1. Graphic Novel – adult age group

DIVISION 330 – POETRY

AWARD OFFERED
1st Place $100 Rosette
2nd Place $50 Rosette
3rd Place $25 Rosette

RULES:

1. Maximum length 40 lines. Any style form or subject accepted. Do not choose a form that exceeds 40 lines. Please choose a subject somewhat appropriate for “all ages” reading.

2. Poem must NOT have been entered in a previous San Mateo County Fair Competition, whether it won or not.

3. Poem must have a title.

4. Exhibitors may enter a poem in the “free form” (meaning it follows no established poem format) or the “structured” (meaning it follows an established poem format) class. Some examples of “structured” form poems include the sonnet, villanelle, sestina, haiku, tanka, limerick, rondel, rondeau, pantoum, et cetera.

5. Exhibitors may not enter the same poem in more than one category or class.

CLASS:

1. Free form poem – Exhibitor 54 years old or younger
2. Senior free form poem – Exhibitor 55 years or older
3. Structured poem – Exhibitor 54 years old or younger
4. Senior structured poem – Exhibitor 55 years or older

DIVISION 331 – ESSAY

AWARD OFFERED
1st Place $100 Rosette
2nd Place $50 Rosette
3rd Place $25 Rosette

RULES:

1. Definition of an essay from Wikipedia: “An essay is usually a short piece of writing which is often written from an author’s personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author.”

2. The essay theme is “CARRY THE LIGHT: THE QUALITY OF ONE’S DREAM WILL DETERMINE ITS POWER.” Carry the Light also pertains to the individual becoming a beacon of light to others not by convincing them of their need to follow him/her, but rather, by showing them the way to manifest their own dreams.

3. Write an essay about anything pertaining to “Carry the Light,” such as stepping up in the community,
assisting others, or daring to dream about what you want to accomplish in this life. The essay may be
serious or lighthearted and may be in first, second, or third person. Nonfiction narrative accounts of personal experience or point of view are acceptable; some dialogue may be included if applicable, but no fiction is allowed in this category and should not read like a standard fiction piece or it will be moved to the short story division.

4. Essay must NOT have been entered in a previous San Mateo County Fair Competition, whether it won or not.

5. The essay must be less than 1,000 words and must have a title.

CLASS:

1. Essay – Exhibitor 54 years old or younger
2. Sr. Essay – Exhibitor 55 years or older

DIVISION 332 – SHORT STORY

AWARD OFFERED
1st Place $100 Rosette
2nd Place $50 Rosett
3rd Place $25 Rosette

RULES:

1. Stories should reflect the writer’s expertise and knowledge of the fiction genre. No narrative essays in this category.

2. NEW WORD COUNT LIMIT: The story must not exceed 2,500 words.

3. Stories must be entered in one of the following classes—General Fiction, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Mystery/Thriller, Western or Historical. Choose the class that best fits the story, but the judges may switch classes at his/her discretion. May be written in first person but must read as fiction, otherwise it will be moved to the essay division.

4. Exhibitors may not enter the same story in more than one category or class, except if you are also entering said short story in the California Writers Club Writer of the Year Contest. NOTE: an additional entry fee will apply.

5. Subject matter must be appropriate for “all ages” reading. No excessive violence, profanity, sexual nature, etc.

6. MULTIPLE CONTEST SUBMISSIONS: Work submitted to the Division 326 CWC Writer of the Year contest may also be submitted to this contest. NOTE: additional entry fees apply.

CLASS:

1. General Fiction—exhibitor 55 years old or younger
2. Senior General Fiction—exhibitor 55 years or older
3. Science Fiction/Fantasy—exhibitor 55 years old or younger
4. Senior Science Fiction/Fantasy—exhibitor 55 years or older
5. Mystery/Thriller—exhibitor 55 years old or younger
6. Senior Mystery/Thriller—exhibitor 55 years or older
7. Western—exhibitor 55 years old or younger
8. Senior Western—exhibitor 55 years or older
9. Historical—exhibitor 55 years old or younger
10. Senior Historical—exhibitor 55 years or older

To Submit Entries

(for complete information, go to https://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/pdf/2013/literary_13.pdf )

1. FORMAT: ENTERING A LITERARY CONTEST IS A TWO-STEP PROCESS:

Step One: Submit each entry electronically in .doc or .docx form. NOTE: If you can’t email your entry it will not be excluded from the anthology; when you mail in your printed copies, include a note for the office to scan your work.

All contests are judged blind, but for publishing purposes, you must include YOUR NAME AND ENTRY TITLE on the subject line of each of your email submissions (one entry per email). Include all other contact information required by fair in the body of each email: author’s name, email address, home address, city, zip, home phone, day phone, title, first sentence or line, word count, division, and class.

EMAIL EACH ENTRY SEPARATELY TO literary@smeventcenter.com

Step Two: You must also mail THREE (3) copies of each entry on 8-1/2″ x 11″ white paper TYPED, double- spaced, font point size may not be smaller than 12 pt with pages numbered (no staples, use paper clips); per judging rules, do not put entrant’s name on literary work.

Each of the 3 copies must have a 3″ x 5″ index card attached with the Author’s name, address, city, zip, home phone, day phone, email address, title, first sentence or line, word count, division, and class. Copies do not have to be mailed individually. Do not submit originals. NOTE: Entries over the designated word count limit will be disqualified.

MAIL PRINTED SUBMISSIONS TO:

San Mateo County Event Center/Literary contest submission
2495 S. Delaware Street, San Mateo, CA 94403
(650) 574-3247

AGE: NEW MIMIMUM AGE is now 16 (except for entrants who already submitted in prior years) All other underage submissions will be moved to the Youth Dept. Age for senior citizen class (55 and older). Age is determined by having had a birthday on or before April 1, 2013.

Cost: $10 per entry. No limit on number of entries.