Essay Writing Contest on "Words of a Feather"
Interest is building in WORDS OF A FEATHER. The first printing sold out! This means that there might be a Volume 2. Stranger things have happened (although I can't think of any right now).
Not wanting to hog all the fun of writing the entries for Volume 2, I'm inviting word lovers from around the universe to submit their own Words-of-a-Feather essays. For each essay selected, I'll pay the author $10.00, roughly the price of a cup of coffee at certain estgablishments.
But to raise the stakes, I'll pay $100 for the best entry. Having limited faith in my own critical standards, I may ask my editor at McGraw-Hill to judge. If she refuses, I'll find one or more literate persons to do the deed. This I promise: The judging will be fair and impartial, unless otherwise noted.
Nothing would please me more than to have the second volume be a collaborative effort. I did another book using that process--THE KIDS' HOW TO DO (ALMOST) EVERYTHING GUIDE. Topics ranged from avoiding shark attacks to communicating with extraterrestrials. Each of the 50+ pieces was written by an expert. The book was a lot better than if I had done it myself.
If you think I'm 100% lazy, you're only half right. Most of the books--and scripts--that I write are solo affairs. I am willing to work...at times. But I enjoy collaboration. And if you enjoy writing short essays of about 300 words--and perhaps picking up $10 or even $100--then I hope you'll submit an original Words-of-a-Feather piece.
You can find models in WORDS OF A FEATHER (McGraw-Hill, 2006). If you prefer not to buy a copy of book (but why?), you'll find plenty of samples at www.wordsofafeather.net.
As for rules, let's keep them simple:
1. The person submitting the best Words of a Feather entry will receive $100. Persons submitting entries chosen for Volume 2 will receive $5.
2. Entries must follow the general format used in Words of a Feather (McGraw-Hill, 2006).
3. The winner will be chosen by Murray Suid or by a judge or panel of judges that Murray Suid selects.
4. Murray Suid reserves the right to choose no winner and to use no material submitted. This might happen, for example, if McGraw-Hill decides not to publish Volume 2.
5. The deadline for submitting entries is June 30, 2007.
6. The winner of the $100 prize, if a winner is chosen, will be notified by October 31, 2007.
7. Authors of entries chosen for Volume 2 will be notified by October 31, 2007.
8. An author should submit no more than 100 entries. One submission per author is probably sufficient.
9. Entries should be emailed to Murray@PointReyesPictures.com.
10. In case of ties (but is that possible in an essay contest?), the earlier entry will win.
11. In submitting an entry, you agree to give Murray Suid and his publisher the right to publish for the first time your essay in the next volume of Words of a Feather--in exchange for $5 or if you submit the best entry $100. But you will retain all other rights to your material. For example, you will have the right to publish your essay elsewhere following the publication of Words of a Feather, Volume 2.
12. Murray Suid's relatives may not entry this contest. Friends are OK. But you'll have no advantage over strangers.
13. This contest is void in any area where such contests are void.
14. Murray Suid reserves the right to add additional rules as needed for clarification. (Lawyers: Feel free to submit pro bono advice on these rules.)
Not wanting to hog all the fun of writing the entries for Volume 2, I'm inviting word lovers from around the universe to submit their own Words-of-a-Feather essays. For each essay selected, I'll pay the author $10.00, roughly the price of a cup of coffee at certain estgablishments.
But to raise the stakes, I'll pay $100 for the best entry. Having limited faith in my own critical standards, I may ask my editor at McGraw-Hill to judge. If she refuses, I'll find one or more literate persons to do the deed. This I promise: The judging will be fair and impartial, unless otherwise noted.
Nothing would please me more than to have the second volume be a collaborative effort. I did another book using that process--THE KIDS' HOW TO DO (ALMOST) EVERYTHING GUIDE. Topics ranged from avoiding shark attacks to communicating with extraterrestrials. Each of the 50+ pieces was written by an expert. The book was a lot better than if I had done it myself.
If you think I'm 100% lazy, you're only half right. Most of the books--and scripts--that I write are solo affairs. I am willing to work...at times. But I enjoy collaboration. And if you enjoy writing short essays of about 300 words--and perhaps picking up $10 or even $100--then I hope you'll submit an original Words-of-a-Feather piece.
You can find models in WORDS OF A FEATHER (McGraw-Hill, 2006). If you prefer not to buy a copy of book (but why?), you'll find plenty of samples at www.wordsofafeather.net.
As for rules, let's keep them simple:
1. The person submitting the best Words of a Feather entry will receive $100. Persons submitting entries chosen for Volume 2 will receive $5.
2. Entries must follow the general format used in Words of a Feather (McGraw-Hill, 2006).
3. The winner will be chosen by Murray Suid or by a judge or panel of judges that Murray Suid selects.
4. Murray Suid reserves the right to choose no winner and to use no material submitted. This might happen, for example, if McGraw-Hill decides not to publish Volume 2.
5. The deadline for submitting entries is June 30, 2007.
6. The winner of the $100 prize, if a winner is chosen, will be notified by October 31, 2007.
7. Authors of entries chosen for Volume 2 will be notified by October 31, 2007.
8. An author should submit no more than 100 entries. One submission per author is probably sufficient.
9. Entries should be emailed to Murray@PointReyesPictures.com.
10. In case of ties (but is that possible in an essay contest?), the earlier entry will win.
11. In submitting an entry, you agree to give Murray Suid and his publisher the right to publish for the first time your essay in the next volume of Words of a Feather--in exchange for $5 or if you submit the best entry $100. But you will retain all other rights to your material. For example, you will have the right to publish your essay elsewhere following the publication of Words of a Feather, Volume 2.
12. Murray Suid's relatives may not entry this contest. Friends are OK. But you'll have no advantage over strangers.
13. This contest is void in any area where such contests are void.
14. Murray Suid reserves the right to add additional rules as needed for clarification. (Lawyers: Feel free to submit pro bono advice on these rules.)
Labels: essay writing contest, word contest, writing contest
posted by Murray Suid at 7:58 PM
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