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SLEUTHFEST 2008 SHORT STORY CONTEST

Once you have registered for SleuthFest, you are invited to submit a short story. The winning story will be published in the SleuthFest program booklet and, in addition, the winner will be given free registration for SleuthFest 2009.

Setup: Your protagonist is attending SleuthFest 2008 and decides to take a dip in the pool. As he/she nears the water, he/she sees a body floating face down, obviously dead.

What happens next?

Write your short story using the above setup. It can be first or third person, male or female protagonist, 2000 words maximum.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Submissions:

  1. Coordinator for the contest is Bob Williamson.
  2. Six copies of each story should be sent to the President of the Florida Chapter of MWA,
    Bob Williamson, at 1235 NE 96th Street, Miami Shores, FL 33138.
  3. Submissions must be blind.
  4. All contact information must be on the COVER PAGE ONLY.
  5. On the top of each page of the story put the title of your story and the page number -- NOTHING ELSE.
  6. Please do not put your name anywhere in the body of the story.
  7. The stories will not be returned, so don't send an SASE.

Process:

  1. Each story will be assigned a number by the Coordinator.
  2. The stories will be read by judges who are active members of MWA and highly regarded writers.
  3. The top choice of the judges will be published in the SleuthFest Program Book.
  4. Judges and officers of the Florida chapter of MWA may not submit a short story.
  5. Stories must be original -- not published elsewhere.
  6. Stories must be 2000 words or less.
  7. Individuals may only submit ONE story for consideration.
  8. Guidelines printed below must be followed.

Deadline:

Deadline for submission is November 15th, 2007.
Manuscripts must be received by that date.

Notification:

All submissions will be listed in the SleuthFest Program Book.

MANDATORY MANUSCRIPT GUIDELINES - No exceptions whatsoever

  1. Manuscripts must be printed on paper. E-mail submissions will not be accepted. An electronic version of the selected story may be needed later, but do not send one unless asked to do so.
  2. Use a legible standard font such as Courier or Times New Roman at 12 pt size; no fancy fonts or formatting, please. Double space. Underline words that are to be italicized. Indent the first line of new paragraphs by five spaces.
  3. Print on one side of the paper only. Make sure the required story title and page number is at the top of each page and use at least 1" margins on all sides. Paper clips are okay, but do not bind, staple, fold, or put your story in a folder.
  4. On the cover sheet only, put your real name, and on new lines each: your address, phone number, e-mail address, and word count for the story. One copy of the story will remain with Bob Williamson with your information on it. The panelists will receive numbered stories only.
  5. At the middle of the first page of the story, type the full story title in CAPS, go down two lines and begin the story on the next line:
  6. At the end of your story, type END or ###.
  7. Mail the six copies of the manuscript in an envelope marked "SleuthFest 2008” to President, FMWA,
    Bob Williamson, 1235 NE 96th Street, Miami Shores, FL 33138."
  8. Entries may be used in short story panels during SleuthFest.
  9. The author will retain all rights to the work.
  10. You must be registered for the conference to enter the contest.