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, 2009. Entries for Contest 17 will be accepted from August 15, 2008. Prize money will total $5,250. The entry fee will be $15. The prize structure for Contest 17 will consist of a First Prize of $2,000, a Second Prize of $1,000, a Third Prize of $500, and a Fourth Prize of $250. In addition, five prizes of $200 each will be awarded, plus five prizes of $100 each, making a total of $5,250. Full details are posted at the bottom of this page.

2. The Margaret Reid Poetry Prize for Traditional Verse, closing June 30, 2008. Entries are now being accepted. Total prize money has been increased to $5,250. See below for full details.

3. The $5,250 Tom Howard Poetry Contest for Poetry and Verse in All Styles and Genres, closing September 30, 2008. Entries are now being accepted. Please use this link for 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! It's never too early or too late to start preparing for this and the next round of contests. Most winners submit multiple entries. You may think you have a winner but it may not be an entry that appeals to the judges. For example, you could write the cleverest baseball poem or the greatest baseball story of all time, but if the judges are not interested in baseball (or even worse, hold that sport in contempt), your entry is headed straight for the reject basket. So it's also important to start thinking about POSSIBLE SUBJECTS. You can accomplish both these aims by buying a copy of the latest Anthology of Prizewinning Poems from the Tom Howard Poetry Prize and the Margaret Reid Prize for Traditional Verse. Only $16.50 for a beautiful print edition from Lulu Books. Or better still, 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 are featured in this large-format 194-page book.

If you would like to preview some of the poems, please use this link: Lulu Books

WRITE WAY NUMBER 2. Here's absolute-must reading for all who wish to succeed in literary contests and writing competitions! A new edition of my famous handbook "WRITE WAYS TO WIN WRITING CONTESTS: How to Join the Winners' Circle for Short Story Awards, Poetry Prizes, etc." is now available either direct from Lulu at http://www.lulu.com/filmindex or online booksellers.

Yes, you can buy from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other bookstores. What's $14.99 compared to increasing your chances of carrying off that $2,000 in cash First Prize? Here are some important tips from "WRITE WAYS TO WIN WRITING CONTESTS":

WRITE WAY NUMBER THREE. Know your judge! What are the writing qualities the judge admires? What is he or she actually looking for in a story or a poem or an essay?

So how do you find out this important information? What sort of stories or poems does the judge write? What subjects interest him (or her)? You'll find an Amazon link for my anthology of original poems, "ANYONE FOR LOVE?", at the bottom of this page. My latest book of stories and essays has also just been released. Please click this Amazon link for a description:

Also important is knowing what work has won awards from the judge in previous contests? And what famous writers does the judge admire and look to for inspiration?

I'll answer the last question by stating that, in my opinion, the best short prose piece ever written is "A Pathetic Story" by Jerome K. Jerome. You'll find the full text in "Write Ways To Win Writing Contests." As for the best 18th century poem, my choice would be "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" by Thomas Gray. For Best Humorous Poem, I'd select "The Jackdaw of Rheims" by Richard Harris Barham. For the best 20th century poem, it would be hard to go past "The Waste Land" by T.S. Eliot. And you'll also find some of my favorite poems in "SAILING IN THE MIST OF TIME".

Here also are two (of many) tips for a winning entry from WRITE WAYS TO WIN WRITING CONTESTS: "A catchy but appropriate title. Remember that first impressions count and your title is the first thing the judge sees. And what is the second thing he sees? Your opening lines. Make sure they arouse interest and capture attention."

Total Prize money: $5,250 (divided in the same way as the Short Story Contest detailed below).

Entry fee: $6 for every 25 lines (or part thereof). Blank lines and titles are not counted.

Send as many poems as you like. No restrictions on length or subject matter. Poems must be your original work, but previously published poems and poems that have won prizes in other contests are welcome. "Traditional Verse" is loosely defined, and includes free verse, haiku, sonnets, odes, ballads, villanelles, songs, sestinas and most other popular forms except prose poems and storoems. In other words, your entries should look like poetry (or like any of the 106 winning and commended poems published in "SAILING IN THE MIST OF TIME").

Entry forms are not necessary, but by entering this contest you agree to abide by all its conditions. Decisions by the chief judge are final.

You retain all rights and are free to accept or decline any offers of print publication. However, you must agree to publication of your winning entry on the Winning Writers website.

Entries must be postmarked on or before June 30, 2008, or lodged online before midnight, June 30, 2008, Pacific Time.

The 17th annual John Howard Reid & Tom Howard Short Story, Essay and Prose Contest will open on August 15, 2008.

The Contest will offer a

$5,250 total prize pool!

First Prize: $2,000

Second Prize: $1,000

Third Prize: $500. Fourth prize: $250

Plus Five High Distinction Awards of $200 each. Plus five Most Highly Commended Awards of $100 each.

Please note that the judges will endeavor to award at least one of the cash prizes this year to a humorous story, essay or article.

Your story or prose piece should be no longer than 5,000 words. There is no minimum length. Closing date is March 31, 2009. You can enter a story that has already been published or even won prizes in other contests (so long as you hold the online publication rights). Unpublished stories are certainly most welcome too! The judges are positively anxious to discover talented writers.

All fourteen winning stories/essays will be published on the WINNING WRITERS web site. At his discretion, the publisher may also from time to time offer selected winning works print publication in an Anthology. WRITERS ARE COMPLETELY FREE TO ACCEPT OR DECLINE SUCH AN INVITATION.

WRITE WAY NUMBER 4. If I were entering this contest myself, my first thought would be to read some of the previous winning stories and essays included in the latest anthology, "WATCHING TIME". This has proved the most popular book I've ever published. I'm both proud yet embarrassed by the fact that the trade edition has completely sold out. The wholesaler has no stock at all. There are still a few copies around in the stores, but they are selling for fancy prices like $145.00! Fortunately, the publisher is still able to supply proof copies. The price is the same as the sold-out trade edition, namely $12.95, even though the printing is of higher quality. Please use this link and scroll right down to the bottom of the page: http://www.lulu.com/filmindex

Entry forms are not necessary, but by entering this contest you agree to abide by all its conditions. Decisions by the chief judge are final.

You retain all rights and are free to accept or decline any offers of print publication.

ENTRY FEE: $12 per story/essay.

Maximum length: 5,000 words.

No minimum length requirements. No restrictions on the type or theme of the stories or prose pieces you may submit. Send as many entries as you like!

Entries must be postmarked on or before March 31, 2009, or lodged online before midnight, March 31, 2009, Pacific Time.

Online submission using your credit card or PayPal will be available at Winning Writers. Please use this link on or after August 15, 2008: http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/tomstory/ts_guidelines.php

Postal submissions may be sent to Winning Writers, Attention Tom Howard Short Story Contest, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060-3961, USA.

Chief judge: John Howard Reid. Associate judge: Dee C. Konrad.