Preamble
“Home is where the heart is.” – Proverb
“After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relatives.”
– Oscar Wilde, A Woman of No Importance
As the shadows lengthen and the verdure of summer yellows and browns, thoughts turn to the approach of cooler weather, longer nights, and our families. For many of us the start of the new school year conjures gilded memories of childhood. Increasingly, Halloween kicks off the holiday season by letting our imaginations dabble in alternative realities: costumes, masks, hauntings, and mazes let us self-determine the constructs of our lives, at least for an evening. We disguise ourselves and play tricks on one another before the formalities and traditions of Thanksgiving and the winter holidays order our hours, days, and weeks. Throughout autumn the idea of family moves closer and closer to the center of our thoughts and activities. And as it does, we reflect on ourselves in relation to others with whom we share the moniker ‘family’.
With this in mind, the Knoxville Writers’ Guild is opening its first Autumn Writing Contest with ‘Family’ as the theme. We are inviting submissions that examine the complex nature of families and our relationships with those deemed closest to us by culture, society, and blood.
2017 Knoxville Writers’ Guild Autumn Contest
The Knoxville Writers Guild is accepting submissions for the its first Autumn Knoxville Writers Guild Contest beginning August 31, 2017 through midnight, October 31, 2017.
Contestants may enter their work in several categories including poetry, literary nonfiction and literary short fiction. There is also a Young Writers category in which student may submit in any of the previously mentioned genres. Judges will be announced shortly.
Please direct questions regarding the contest here.
Literary Short Fiction
Guidelines:
Entry consists of one short story totaling no more than 3,000 words. See General Guidelines for additional instructions.
Members: Free
Non-Members: $30
Poetry
Guidelines:
Entry consists of no more than three typed poems totaling 100 lines or fewer. If more than one poem is entered on the same submission, poems will be judged as a collection. There are no restrictions as far as style, content or spacing.
See General Guidelines.
Members: Free
Non-Members: $30
Literary Nonfiction
Guidelines:
Entry consists of one typed, double-spaced nonfiction essay of no more than 3,000 words.
See General Guidelines.
Members: Free
Non-Members: $30
Young Writers
Open to all students grades 7 through 12 of Knox and adjoining counties.
Guidelines:
Fiction: Entry consists of one short story or stand-alone novel excerpt totaling no more than 3,000 words, double-spaced.
Nonfiction: Entry consists of essay totaling no more than 3,000 words, double-spaced.
Poetry: Up to a maximum of three typed poems totaling 100 lines or fewer with no restrictions as far as style, content or spacing. Poems should be submitted as a single document. Poems will be judged as a collection.
Do not include any identifying information on the submissions themselves.
If you are a teacher or school submitting entries on behalf of your students, please add the following information in addition to the information required by the General Guidelines:
- School name
- Teacher or school representative name
- School Address
- School phone number
Please contact us if your school or club needs any additional information for bookkeeping or payment purposes.
Students: Free
Complete guidelines for the entries can be found here.
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