SAWC ANNUAL COMPETITION

The South African Writers Circle’s Annual Short Story Competition is open to all. The closing date is October 31, 2011.

Focusing on fiction only, the competition fees are R55 (R45 for SAWC members). An additional R10 is payable for writers who wish to receive a critique of their entry. More than one entry may be submitted, each with the prescribed fee/s.

All competition submissions must be in English and entries not exceeding 2,500 words must not have been previously published nor placed in any competitions. Entries will be judged on literary merit, use of imagination and ability to enthral. The judge's decision is final and no correspondence will be entertained.

Entries must be typed in double spacing on one side of each sheet of A4 paper. Number the pages and keep a copy, as entries cannot be returned unless a SASE has been supplied. A cover page should be provided per entry which must contain the title of the work, the writer’s pseudonym, and the number of words. The author's actual name or address must not appear on the cover page or anywhere in the submitted work. It should only appear on the entry form. An entry form and a cover page must be attached to the front of each entry.

For posted entries, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of the critique. Critiques will not be sent to entrants, even if they have paid the extra fee, unless a SASE with sufficient postage is provided. Qualifying e-mail entries will receive an e-mailed critique.

Entries may be posted to SAWC Annual Short Story Competition, Competitions Manager, South African Writers Circle, Box 2342, Westville, 3630; or George at georgem@clt-interactive.com Each entry must be accompanied by an entry form which can be found at: http://sawriters.org.za/live/competitions/annual-competition.html

Winners will be announced on the website and in the SAWC Newsletter. Prizewinners will receive their prizes at the 2012 SAWC Annual Awards Luncheon. First price offers R1,000, the Frances Bond trophy and the writer’s story published in the SAWC Newsletter Write Now!. Second and third prizes are R500 and R250 respectively. The five highly commended entries each win a SAWC pen.