All entries should be mailed to:
GCWA Writing Contest
P.O. Box 60771
Fort Myers, FL 33906
Entries may also be emailed to specialprojects@gulfwriters.org (entry form available online)
Original, unpublished submissions only (see formatting requirements below):
o Your entry must be original, in English, unpublished, and unproduced, not accepted by any other publisher or producer before April 1, 2022.
Word count:
o Fiction / Nonfiction / Children’s Stories —1500 words maximum
o Poetry – 40 lines maximum Nonfiction includes essay, memoir, and creative nonfiction.
If submitting by mail or in person, submit three (3) copies. Your submission(s) will not be returned.
o Note: If there are fewer than six (6) entries in a category, the judges may deem a “no contest” situation, in which case entry fees shall be returned in that category. NOTE: If there are fewer than six (6) entries in the Children’s Stories category, those may be combined and judged with the Fiction category, at the judges’ discretion.
All entry fees are due in U.S. Dollars, accompanied by an entry form.
Deadline:
o Entries postmarked or received electronically after 11:59 pm, January 31, 2022, will not be accepted.
If you submit a portion of a novel, please understand that it will be judged as a complete story.
The decisions of the judges are final.
○ Judges will consider: characterization, plot, structure, spelling, grammar, and
punctuation. Visit our Website https://gulfwriters.org/contest/ for judging criteria forms.
○ Judges reserve the right to NOT select a winner if entries fail to meet quality criteria.
Winner notification: by US mail and email before March 31, 2022.
The winning submissions (top three in each category) will be published on GCWA’s Website (& possibly the Ft Myers Magazine) with author permission.
o GCWA has only first rights. Copyright and all other rights remain property of author.
o Winners will be announced at the GCWA meeting in April, 2022.
You may submit as many entries as you like in each of the following categories:
o Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Children’s Stories.
o No gratuitous violence or erotica.
o While there is no limit on the number of entries you may submit, only one prize
awarded per author.
If submitting by mail or in person, entries must be typewritten only (handwritten submissions will be disregarded), 3 copies.
Formatting:
For detailed formatting tips go to:
https://gulfwriters.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/FormattingTips.pdf
o Font: Times New Roman, Font size: 12
o Margins: top/bottom 1”, left/right 1”, text unjustified (ragged right margin).
o Fiction/ Nonfiction/Children’s: double spaced, single side on 8 ½ x 11 white paper.
Indent first line of paragraphs.
o No illustrations for Children’s Stories.
o Poetry may be single or double spaced as best befits the work.
o Judging is done by blind entry method. (DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME ON
ENTRY SUBMISSION PAGES.)
o You must include the title of your entry on each page.
o All pages must be numbered – bottom center of page.
o Children’s Stories entries should list intended age level at top of page.
o If submitting by mail or in person, please staple each of your three copies of each entry in top left corner.
Entry form:
○ Entry form should NOT be stapled to entry (Judging by blind entry method)
o Author’s name (Pen names are allowed. We only need your real name if you are chosen as a winner – in order to issue prizes.)
o You must complete one entry form for each piece/entry.
o Each form must include your full mailing address, email, and telephone number, title of work, submission category, and word count.