Write Ways to Win Writing Contests

Each year, John Howard Reid and Tom Howard Books sponsor three Writing Contests. These Contests are open to all writers worldwide, although please note that all entries must be written in English.

In order of annual closing dates, these contests are:

1. The Tom Howard/John Howard Reid Short Story, Essay and Prose Contest, deadline March 31, 2012. Entries for Contest 20 are now being accepted. Prize money will total $5,550. The entry fee is $15. The prize structure for Contest 20 consists of a First Prize, $3,000. Second Prize, $1,000. Third Prize, $400. Fourth Prize, $250. In addition, six Most Highly Commended entries will each receive cash prizes of $150. Grand total adds up to $5,550. Full details are posted on this page.

2. The Margaret Reid Poetry Prize for Traditional Verse, closing June 30, 2012. The contest is now open. Total prize money will amount to at least $5,550. Full details are posted at http://margaretreid.exactpages.com

3. The $5,800 Tom Howard Poetry Contest for Poetry and Verse in All Styles and Genres is now open. If you scroll down this page or use this link, you will find full details http://www.tomhowardpoetry.bravepages.com

One of the very best ways to DEFEAT WRITER'S BLOCK is to take a look at what other writers are writing. Not only what they're publishing, but what they're winning prizes for! So browse through the latest Anthology of Prizewinning Poems. Buy now for only $9.95 in Amazon's special promotion. Yes, this is exactly the same book that some other stores (and even the publisher) are selling for $16.50. Over 100 prize-winning poems from our Contests, in a great variety of subjects and styles, are featured in this large-format 194-page book. OWING TO COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS, THIS ANTHOLOGY WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AS AN E-BOOK. Only the printed edition will continue to be on sale.

WRITE WAY NUMBER 2. Here's absolute-must reading for all who wish to succeed in literary contests and writing competitions! A New, Expanded Edition of my highly acclaimed handbook "WRITE WAYS TO WIN WRITING CONTESTS: How to Join the Winners' Circle for Prose and Poetry Awards" is now available from Amazon. With right-up-to-date information, 20 extra pages, including an extra chapter on "Maximizing Poetry Entries", this book is a must-have item. And the really good news is that, despite all the additional information, the publisher has reduced the price to only $12.50. Of course you can also still buy the old edition for $14.99. But why do that, when you can buy the latest print edition for only $12.50, or the Kindle edition for only $2.99? Here's the Kindle link: Write Ways to WIN WRITING CONTESTS

So how do you find an effective title? Until a few months ago, this was a hit or miss affair. But this book not only lists 3,000 movie titles, but gives you an indication as to how successful or unsuccessful they were. I once write a novel titled "Prophet, Priest and King". Wow! The five-star reviews that book collected! But the book sold only a few hundred copies. On the other hand, a book called "All Possible Avenues" gathered bad reviews galore! Yet the first edition sold out in two weeks. Ditto four more hardcover printings. Paperback rights were purchased for $25,000. So why was "Prophet" dead on the water, yet sales of "All Possible" took off like a rocket? "Hollywood Classics Title Index..." provides the answer. In respect of sales, "Prophet" is a negative word. Not a single one of over 3,000 movie titles employs that word. "All", on the other hand, is a very attractive, positive word. Nine movie titles begin with the word, "All", and no less than three of those movies, printed in bold type, were colossal box-office successes!

So check out your title and put yourself on the winning track! The e-book will set you back only 99 cents. You can buy from Kindle (that's the Amazon link above with no price info), Barnes and Noble, Sony, Apple, etc.

The Tom Howard Poetry Contest

for Poetry and Verse

in all styles & genres

CLOSING SEPTEMBER 30, 2012!

The 10th annual Tom Howard Poetry Contest IS NOW OPEN. For the 10th Contest, a total of $5,800 will be awarded in prize-money for all styles and genres of poetry and verse as follows:

First Prize: $3,000. Second: $1,000. Third: $400. Fourth: $250. Special Prize for the Best Humorous Poem: $250. Plus six Most Highly Commended Awards of $150 each. Ten cash awards in all, including that First Prize of $3,000.

Grand total: $5,800.

In short, this Contest is a Premier Literary Competition for Original Creative Writing in Poetry or Verse in any Style and on any Theme.

US$5,800 in Cash Prizes, plus online publication for the top ten winners.

Closing date for this Contest: September 30, 2012

Entries may be submitted online at http://winningwriters.com/contests/tompoetry/tp_guidelines.php

Visit the above site for email, PayPal and snail mail options.

Entry forms are not required for this Contest, however, by entering you agree to abide by the judge's decisions, and that those decisions are final. If you win a cash prize you agree to allow John H. Reid and Winning Writers to publish your poem online.

Entry fees are US$8 for every 25 lines (or part thereof).

There is no maximum limit on the number of lines (or number of entries) you may submit. There are no restrictions on subject matter and, unlike many other contests, humorous poems and comic verses are most welcome. In fact, you will find some excellent, winning examples of comic poems in our printed anthologies such as SAILING IN THE MIST OF TIME.

TO REPEAT, ALL TYPES AND GENRES OF POETRY ARE ACCEPTED

NO RESTRICTIONS ON PREVIOUS PUBLICATION

PRIZE-WINNERS FROM OTHER CONTESTS WELCOME

(SO LONG AS YOU HAVE RETAINED ONLINE PUBLISHING RIGHTS)

Please note that the entry fee of US$8 per 25 lines is calculated on the total number of lines. (Headings and spaces are not counted). If you submit two short poems, one of ten lines and one of 14 lines, the total fee is US$8. If, however, you submit two sonnets (14 lines each), the fee is US$16. If you submit a long poem of 100 lines, the fee is US$32.

If you have any questions, please email johnreid at mail.qango.com

The prizes are pegged in U.S. dollars. Prizes will be paid in other currencies (if required) at equivalent rates of exchange.

The chief judge of all entries in the Contest is John H. Reid. Associate judge is Professor D.C. Konrad.

This beautiful collection of poetry by John Howard Reid (including a number of prize-winning poems) is now on sale at Amazon. The Kindle e-book with its newly designed cover sells for only $2.99. Please click the first link below: