[blindkid] NFB Writing Contest

[Kim Gulf Images]

> 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.
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> 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. 
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> SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
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> 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 atthirdeyeonlyinaz at gmail.com.
> *Send your hardcopy Braille and cover letter to:
>  
> EvaMarie Sanchez 
> 202 E Louisiana apt 2
> Ruston, La 71270
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> Youth ENTRY FEES – None
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> *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