2009 Contests and Scholarships: Cheryl's completely non-comprehensive list of opportunities

1. January 1-31 (postmark date): Highlights 2009 Fiction Contest
   Submit: Contemporary world culture stories up to 800 words (older readers) or 500 words (younger readers). See web site for details.
   Prize: Three prizes of $1,000 or tuition for the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop at Chautauqua.




2. February 1: Writing Away Retreats Scholarship Contest
   Submit: Short story or portion of novel UP TO 5K words to using this as your topic: "Dishing up fear" to creativelivesworkshop@hotmail.com with "Writing Away Retreats Contest" as the subject line. See contest web site for details.
   Fee: $10.00
   Prize: Full ride to Writing Away Retreats (worth $1350.00)




3. February 17 (receipt date): The Sandy Writing Contest 2009 for writers unpublished in novel-length fiction.
   Submit: The first 20 pages and up to a 2 page synopsis, for a total page count of 22 pages. See contest rules for categories and additional information.
   Fee: $20 for Crested Butte (or Gunnison) Friends of Library members, fee for all others is $30.
   Prize: Acquiring editors and agents will serve as final judges. They will determine the order of the top three entries in each category. Winners will be announced at the 2009 Crested Butte Writers Conference. The first place entries in each category will receive $50 and a certificate; second place will receive $25 and a certificate; and third place will receive a certificate.




4. April 1 (postmark date): Pan Handle Professional Writers 2009 Youth Writing Contest Submit: Short story or poetry (length varies with age group; see contest link for details).
   Fee: none
   Prize: ??? (info not found)




5. April 15th: fAiRy gOdSisTeRs, iNk 2nd Annual SCBWI Summer Conference Scholarship
   Submit: A 250-word, double-spaced essay describing what you hope to accomplish by attending this year's summer conference. Send your essay to: fairygodsistersink@yahoo.com.
   Fee: none
   Prize: $1500 scholarship for a SCBWI member to attend the August 2009 conference in Los Angeles.




6. April 1-June 1 (???2009 dates tbd): Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Colorado Gold Writing Contest (2008 info here) for writers of commercial fiction.
   Submit: 20 manuscript pages and an eight-page synopsis.
   Fee: (2008) $25, with additional fee for written critique
   Prize: (2008) SIX highest-scoring submissions in each of four categories will make the finals and then be judged by an agent or editor who works in that genre. They will pick one winner in each category. The winner receives $100 and a framed certificate. The remaining finalists will receive $25 and a framed certificate.




7. June 30th(?): RMC-SCBWI Manuscript Critique - entry deadline (specific date tbd)
   Submit: Details tbd
   Fee: tbd
   Prize: Top manuscripts will receive critiques and one-on-one appointments with an editor or agent attending the RMC-SCBWI 2009 Fall Conference.




8. March 1-August 15: Pockets Fiction Contest
   Submit: 1,000 to 1,600 word story (1,400 words preferred). Manuscripts are disqualified if they are shorter or longer by even a few words. Note accurate word count on the cover sheet. Stories must be previously unpublished.
   Fee: none
   Prize: The winner, notified by November 1, will receive a $1,000 award. Because the purpose of the contest is to discover new writers, previous winners are not eligible.
   




9. September 25: Decatur Public Library Annual Writing Contest
   Submit: See contest rules here
   Fee: $3/entry, 5 entry max
   Prizes: Small cash prizes for top 3 manuscripts in each category, plus comments (sometimes--not guaranteed) from published author who judges your submission
   




10. September 1-November 1 (??? 2009 dates tbd): Pikes Peak Writers Fiction Contest (2009 info)
    Fee (from 2008): $30 PPWC members, $40 non-members, with additional charge for optional critiques
    Prize: First place winner in each category will be refunded his/her conference registration fee if attending the 2010 PPWC or will be awarded a cash prize of $100 if not attending. Second place will be awarded $50, and third place will be awarded $30. In addition, winners attending the conference will be given top priority with respect to their editor/agent pitch appointment selections.