2011 Pen Parentis Writing Fellowship for New Parents
In addition to a full year of promotion, a $1000 prize will be presented to the Pen Parentis Writing Fellow at a public reading of the winning work in Manhattan on Tuesday, September 13, 2011. Entrants must be the parent of at least one child under 10 years of age, but there are no style or genre limitations on the works of fiction submitted for consideration. Entrants can be at any level of their literary careers. The contest will seek submissions starting March 1 and end the submission period April 20 (postmark deadline).
Guidelines:
Submissions are by postal mail only and call for a new, never-published fiction story-any genre, on any subject-of up to 1350 words (typed double-spaced on 8 � x 11 paper in Times New Roman 12 point or similar font, with one inch margins). Do not put author's name on this manuscript. Do put the title of the story and the word count.
Please retype the title of the story and word count on a removable cover page along with author's name, full contact information, and age of author's child(ren). Financial status, prior publication, and hardship stories do not aid your application. Judging is blind. The contest will seek submissions starting March 1 and end the submission period April 20 (postmark deadline).
Judging is blind and based only on the following criteria:
- adherence to contest rules
- creativity
- narrative arc
- emotional truth
- elements of surprise, humor, writing skill, and/or layers of depth.
All genres and styles of fiction are welcome. Novel excerpts are acceptable if they can stand alone as a story. Simultaneous submissions ok, but notify if published elsewhere. Multiple submissions ok, but separate entry fee for each submission. Entry fees will not be refunded.
Entry is $20. Pen Parentis members may enter at a discounted rate. If you are a Pen Parentis Author in good standing be sure you are logged in to view a special offer.
Good luck and happy writing!
Mail entries to: Pen Parentis Writing Fellowship for New Parents, 176 Broadway, Ste. 14F, New York, NY, 10038. You may include a stamped, self-addressed postcard if you wish receipt to be acknowledged. No SASE required as manuscripts will not be returned.
Winner will be announced on the Pen Parentis website and by email or phone to the winning author on or before August 1, 2011. Please make sure that author contact information includes either email or phone.
Prize:
One winning author will be showcased for one year on our website as the "Pen Parentis Writing Fellow," a new emergent author worthy of notice. The Fellow will receive a public showcase of the winning new work in a stunning literary location in New York City, paired with an established author who may function as inspiration and guide (2010's winner, Abby Sher, read with Jennifer Egan and Darin Strauss). Winner also receives $1000, presented at the Pen Parentis Literary Salon on September 13th, 2011, in conjunction with the reading of the winning work. Pen Parentis will publicize this reading for the author and will provide author with any press clips that mention author's name. Pen Parentis encourages, but does not require, attendance to subsequent readings at the Libertine Library in order to 1) be introduced to other authors and 2) network with prospective editors, agents, and readers. Finally, Pen Parentis will feature the winner on our website for one year, updating his/her accomplishments to the community, and will link to their author website, if any, and will promote the author when he/she attends regular Pen Parentis author salon events.
Important note: Entrants must be the parent of at least one child under 10 yrs old. While we accept submissions from anywhere, applicants are advised that there is no travel budget. Winners are responsible for their own transportation costs to the reading location in Manhattan.
Sponsors:
The Pen Parentis Fellowship is generously supported by a grant from the Sustainable Arts Foundation in California and individual donors. Corporate support is provided by the Thompson Hotel chain, General Growth Properties (The Seaport), Fractured Atlas, and The Libertine at Gild Hall.
