Lake Writers -
Novel Writing Contest -
A 2009 Past Event

quill and ink

Notices

  • Novel Writing Contest:
    Entry Deadline has past
    (July 4, 2009)

  • Contact
    For additional information about the Lake Writers or the Novel Contest, contact Jim Morrison, president of Lake Writers, at 540-721-1991.

  • Lake Writers Meetings:
    Second Friday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at the Moneta/Smith Mountain Lake Library. Fourth Friday of each month at 10:00 a.m. at the Westlake Library, Westlake Center.

Oct 26, 2009 - 2009 Novel Contest Winners Announced

Have You Written the
Next Great American Novel?

Is it hidden away in a drawer somewhere? If so, opportunity is knocking. Enter the Lake Writers Novel Contest sponsored by the Smith Mountain Arts Council (SMAC). The contest is designed to encourage writing and showcase the talent of writers living in the general area around Smith Mountain Lake.

Image: Book

Eligibility

To be eligible, a writer must be a member of the Lake Writers, a group that meets under the auspices of SMAC, or live in Bedford, Franklin or Pittsylvania Counties or cities therein.

A writer may submit only one entry. It must be original work by the writer, representing a completed, novel. The novel must be unpublished and not yet represented by an agent.

How to Enter

To enter, a writer must submit the first fifty pages—no more, no less—of a completed novel, along with a detachable cover sheet, to the contest coordinator no later than July 4, 2009. (Submission of the complete novel at this stage will result in disqualification.) Only one copy need be submitted. Submissions must be mailed and postmarked before July 4 and sent to:

Mrs. Fran Nielsen, SMAC Novel Contest Coordinator
125 Low Country Drive
Penhook, VA 24137

Judging

An independent contest judge will then select a minimum of three finalists, and the contest coordinator will contact the finalists to have them submit their complete novels on or before August 31, 2009, for final judging.

Manuscript Format

Manuscripts must adhere to specific formatting rules. Entries must be typed or prepared on a word processer; handwritten entries will not be accepted. The manuscript must use 12-point Times New Roman font, be double spaced, be on white, 8.5 x 11-inch paper, and have one inch margins. Submissions must have a detachable cover sheet with the title of the novel, the author’s name, mailing address, e-mail address (if available) and phone number. The author’s name must not appear on any other page of the novel. Each page of the manuscript must display the title of the novel in the upper left-hand corner and sequential page numbers in the upper right-hand corner. There is no page limit for the novels, and novels may represent any genre. These instructions can also be found at www.LakeWriters.webs.com.

Entry Fees

Writers who meet the above eligibility requirements fall into one of two categories. Writers who are SMAC members in good standing may enter for free. Non-SMAC members must either pay a fee of $25 to enter or join SMAC and pay annual dues before entering the contest. Entrants must include SMAC status on the cover sheet.

Cash Prizes

The contest coordinator will personally notify only the finalists and winners of the judging results. SMAC will issue appropriate press releases. Manuscripts will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Cash prizes are $1,000 for first place, $400 for second place, and $200 for third place. Members of the Lake Writers hope that the cash prizes will help the three winners offset some of the costs of pursuing an agent and publication of their work.