Since 1958
About Skagit Valley Writers Contest
Registration March 30, 2023 Awards
First Place: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry
Second Place: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry
Entry Fee
Members.............$ 10. Per Entry
Students...............$ 10. Per Entry
Non-Members..........$ 35. Includes Membership
Plus One Entry
Mail Entry Fee to:
Skagit Valley Writers
P.O. Box 913
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
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To Enter Contest:
Send Email With Selected Category(s) to:
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***At final submission, entries up to standard in content and form will be published in the next Skagit Valley Writers Anthology. Entries containing graphic sexuality, extreme violence, or gratuitous offensive language will not be considered.
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Contest Categories & Rules
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Fiction:
Fantasy, Sci Fi, Adventure, or Mystery
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Email Submissions to:
Theme: Author's Choice
Word Count not less than 4,500
Font: Arial
Font Size: 11
Standard indent: 0.8"
Line Spacing: 1.5
Margins: 1.25"
Language: English
Original Works of Not the Same Category, Not Previously Published or Entered in a Contest
Author's Use of an Online Edit Service Encouraged
One Independent Edit Prior to Publication is Mandatory
Judging will be based on:
The elements of the craft of writing such as the inclusion of the physical, emotional, and intentional arc, point of view, character development, dialogue, scene writing, theme, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and universal appeal.
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Nonfiction
Memoir, Essay, or Journalese
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Email Submissions to:
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Theme: Author's Choice
Word Count not less than 4,500
Font: Arial
Font Size: 11
Standard indent: 0.8"
Line Spacing: 1.5
Margins: 1.25"
Language: English
Original Works of Not the Same Category, Not Previously Published or Entered in a Contest
Author's Use of an Online Edit Service Encouraged
One Independent Edit Prior to Publication is Mandatory
Judging will be based on:
The elements of the craft of writing such as the inclusion of the physical, emotional, and intentional arc, point of view, character development, dialogue, scene writing, theme, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and universal appeal.
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Poetry:
3 One Page Poems or One 3-Page Poem
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Email Submissions to:
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Theme: Author's Choice
Poems Judged Separately
One Poem 3-Pages, or 2 pages + 1-page poem.
Font: Arial
Font Size: 11
Line Spacing:1.25
Margins: 1.25"
Language: English
Original Works of Not the Same Category, Not Previously Published or Entered in a Contest
Author's Use of an Online Edit Service Encouraged
One Independent Edit Prior to Publication is Mandatory
Judging will be based on:
The elements of the craft of writing poetry such as, Poem has Imagery, (appeals to the senses); music, (sound and rhythm); diction, (word choice); syntax, (word order); figurative language (simile, metaphor, etc.); form, (sonnet etc.); structure, (pattern); unity, (elements contribute to whole); movement, (open to closure); symbolism, irony, allegory, allusion, voice, tone, persona, originality, (not cliche); mechanics, (grammar, spelling, punctuation).
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