[Nfbnet-members-list] Writers' Division Annual Writing Contest for Youth and Adults - 2016 IS HERE

Wed Jan 6 15:42:10 UTC 2016

2016 WRITING CONTEST GUIDELINES

The annual youth and adult writing contests 
sponsored by the NFB Writers’ Division will open 
January 1st and close April 1st.

Adult contests are: short Fiction, non-fiction, stories for youth, and poetry.

Youth contest are: Short fiction, poetry, and a 
new category called Federation History. The youth 
contest is divided into three groups, determined 
by grade level – elementary, middle, and high 
school. Note, our new category, Federation 
History, is unique, different from the fiction 
and poetry contest, in respects to the following 
three points: First, an entry can be of any style 
or genre of writing as long as it pertains to the 
history of the National Federation of the Blind. 
Second, all entrants compete equally, no matter 
what grade they may be in. Thirdly, the best of 
this category will be honored at the National 
Convention and will be able to read their piece 
at one of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children’s functions.

As always, in both adult and youth contests, 
there may be up to three prize winners (1st, 2nd, 
3rd), and one or more receiving honorable 
mention. Additionally, a prize winning entry may 
be published within the Writers’ Division’s magazine, Slate & Style.
All contest winners will be announced during the 
first week of July, at the Writers’ Division’s 
business meeting, during the NFB national 
convention to be held in Orlando, Florida.

PRIZES
*Youth contest winners will receive $30 for 1st 
place, $20 for 2nd place, and $10 for 3rd place.
*Adult contest winners will receive $100 for 1st 
place, $50 for 2nd place, and $25 for 3rd place.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

YOUTH CONTESTS
*This is a contest for students who use Braille.
*Note: if you are 18 years old, or older, you must enter the adult contest.
*Entries must be submitted in hand embossed 
Braille, either with a slate and stylus or 
Braille writer, and there are no exceptions.
*Submissions must be brailed by the entrant.
*All submissions, no matter your grade level, 
must be in contracted Braille. Let us know if you 
“know” or are “learning” contracted Braille. 
Additionally, let us know if you have chosen to use UEB, or not.
*Each entrant must provide an identical 
electronic copy of the cover letter and contest 
entry as a Microsoft Word file [doc] or as a Rich Text Format [rtf] file).
*Attach the electronic copies to an email and 
send them to- EvaMarie Sanchez at thirdeyeonlyinaz at gmail.com.
*Send your hardcopy Braille and cover letter to:

EvaMarie Sanchez
202 E Louisiana apt 2
Ruston, La 71270

COVER LETTER
Entries must be accompanied by a cover letter 
containing entrant's information: Name, address, 
phone, e-mail, title of the entry, school, and grade of entrant.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
*We will consider only unpublished original entries.
*Youth short fiction or Federation History 
stories submissions cannot be more than 1,000 
words, and poetry of no more than 50 lines.
*Authors of either poetry, Federation History, or 
fiction are encouraged to submit multiple pieces.

Youth ENTRY FEES – None

Are you the best brailler in the contest? Be sure 
to double check your work. Remember to use 
braille paper so the braille is easy to read. Good luck!

ADULT CONTEST
*Note: this contest is for everyone 18 years old, or older.
*We will consider only unpublished original entries.
*Fiction short stories can be of any main stream 
genre, and cannot exceed 3,000 words.
*Non-fiction entries should be either a memoir or 
personal essay, and cannot exceed 3,000 words.
*Stories for youth are stories with content 
written at an intellectual level appropriate for 
the younger reader, and cannot exceed 3,000 words.
*Poetry: We will accept poetry of any length
*Authors of either poetry and/or prose are 
encouraged to submit multiple pieces.
*Adults are required to submit all poetry, 
fiction, non-fiction, and stories for youth as 
attachments to an E-mail message.
*The attachments must be in either Microsoft Word 
(doc) or Rich Text Format (rtf).
*Fiction, non-fiction and stories for youth 
should be written in a normal prose style, with 
paragraphs being left justified, lines are single 
spaced, and having a 14 point font of Aerial, regular.
*No hard copy submissions will be accepted.

COVER LETTER
Along with your entry or entries, include a cover 
letter providing the following:
*Your name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address.
*List the titles of all submissions, including 
the category in which they are being entered.
*State your method of payment for the entry fee (check or PayPal).
*Finally, the cover letter could be your e-mail 
message, or a separate document attached along with your submissions.

CONTEST ENTRY FEES PAYMENT AND METHODS
Adult Fees:
*The fee for each short story, non-fiction piece, 
or story for youth is $6.00 for members and $10.00 for non-members.
*The base fee for poetry will cover up to three 
poems, if the combined line-count of all three 
pieces does not exceed 108 lines - additional 
poems require a second fee, following the same 
fee payment scheme. Base fees are $6.00 for members and $10.00 for non-members.

PAYMENT
*You may use PayPal from the Writers’ Division website, http://writers.nfb.org
*Alternatively, you may mail a check made out to 
NFB Writers’ Division, with a note in the memo 
line relating to the contest. Send to:

Shawn Jacobson
19541 Olney Mill Rd.
Olney, MD 20832.

*E-mail submissions should be sent to EvaMarie 
Sanchez at: thirdeyeonlyinaz at gmail.com
****We look forward to seeing your words. ****
If you have questions write EvaMarie Sanchez, 
Writers’ Division President: thirdeyeonlyinaz at gmail.com

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