How to Join
 
General Rules Apply to all Contests.
1.All entries must be standard manuscript form. Poetry should be single-spaced. No author information on manuscript, but do put title and page number in upper right corner of each page. Include cover sheet with author's complete information including e-mail address in the upper left corner. Put word count as well as name and number of contest in the upper right corner of cover sheet. Must be mailed flat in large envelope.
 
2. All submissions must be the original, unpublished work of the author. All contests are for OWL members only. Only one entry per contest. All submissions are final. No subsequent/revised submissions accepted.
3. No gratuitous or graphic violence or sex.
4. Manuscripts will not be returned, but will be destroyed after judging. Those submitting books may have them returned if they enclose sufficient postage and packaging with their submission otherwise they are donated. (see Cliff Edom photo contest rules for photo return policy)
5.  Qualified judges will conduct blind judging. Judges shall not enter the contests they judge.
6. First place winning entries may never be entered in any OWL contest again. Entries may be disqualified for not following directions.
7. Your ten dollar entry fee for the general contests entitles you to enter as many of the general category contests as you wish. No manuscript may be entered in more than one contest in any given year. Sponsors may not enter their contest, but may enter all others.
OWL Contests for 2012
General Category Contests 
Entries must be postmarked no later than September 1. Decisions are final and judges’ names are confidential.  Make $10.00 check payable to Ozarks Writers League and mail it along with  2 copies of each entry to Pam Jones at this address:
Pam Jones
226 Wedgeview Drive
Farmington, AR 72730

1st $125 . 2nd $100 . 3rd $75

#1 Gene Andereck Short Story Contest.  Limit 5,000 words. Sponsored by Kim Andereck in memory of his father.

1st $50. 2nd $30 . 3rd $20

#2 Flash Fiction. Story with a beginning, a middle, and an end in no more than 99 words or less.  Sponsored by Jan Morrill

#3 Mystery/Suspense Short Story.  Limit 3,000 words.  Sponsored by Twin Lakes Writers.

#4 Paranormal Short Story.  Limit 3,000 words. Sponsored by Delois McGrew in memory of her son, Jimmie.

#5 Western Short Story.  Western short story or three chapters and synopsis of western novel.  Limit 3,000 words on the short story.  Sponsored by Dusty Richards.

#6 Short Story.  In the style of the greats like Flannery O’Connor and Willa Cather.  3,000 word limit. Any genre.  Sponsored by Lou and Bryan Turner.

#7 Young Adult Short Story or Book.  Limit short story to 2,000 words.  For books send 3 chapters and synopsis, limit 50 pages.  Sponsored by Richard Howk.

#8 Unpublished Book. First 3 chapters and synopsis, limit 50 pages. Sponsored by Leon and Dot Combs.

#9 Dan Saults, Personal Essay.  Maximum of 3,000 words.  In honor of Dan Saults, a dedicated conservationist.  Sponsored by Brenda Brinkley.

#10 Poetry. Any form, must list form on cover sheet. Limit 26 lines. Sponsored by Boxcar Willie Inn.

#11 Non-fiction article. 3,000 word limit. Sponsored by Storyteller Magazine.

#12 Six-word Memoir. Sponsored by Beth Carter.

Enter your best six-word memoir about each of the following challenges in a writer’s life.  You must write a six-word memoir for EACH category.  Use only six words for each of six categories.  When you are finished, you will have 36 total words. Example: Ernest Hemingway’s famous six-word memoir is: For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.

Six-word Memoir Categories (write six words about EACH one and label each six word memoir with A, B, C, D, E and F)

A.      Inspiration for writing

B.      A writer’s typical day

C.      Writing advice

D.     How do you feel after you type “The End”

E.      The agony of query letters

F.       Dealing with rejection

#13 Creative Non-fiction or Memoir.  Short story or first three chapters and synopsis of creative non-fiction novel or memoir. Limit (including synopsis) 25 pages. Sponsored by Brenda Black.

#14 Page 99 Plus Contest. Submit the first 3 chapters (not to exceed 30 pages) PLUS page 99 of a literary novel—a character-driven novel that says something about the human condition, but not at the expense of a good story and plot. This will generally not include genre fiction—westerns, sci-fi, etc.—however, quality fiction can transcend setting or genre and still have commercial appeal, e.g., Lonesome Dove, To Kill a Mockingbird, or Cold Mountain. Sponsored by Lonnie Whitaker.

First Place $100

#15 Best Book of the Year.  Must have been published in the year 2011.  Any genre, hard cover or paper backs, no electronic books.  Sponsored by High Hill Press.

President’s Award, First Place $200

#16 President’s Award. Best of the Best. Overall winner in all categories receives trophy and $200.

Winners from each of the above 12 contests will be announced at the November 16th Awards Banquet.

ANNUAL ART & PHOTO SHOW

FEBRUARY

CONTEST CHAIR: LONNIE WHITAKER

 

RULES:

 

1) For photography: Paperclip a 3x5 index card to the back of the 5x7 or 8x10 matted photo. Include:

 

* Photographer's name

* Address

* Phone Number

* Email address

 

Name may not appear anywhere on the photo. Do not glue address labels to the back.

 

2) For art: Includes watercolor, oil, pastels, pencil, acrylic and any other form. Artwork must be matted. Follow above rules for placing artist's information on the art work.

 

3) For alternative art: This includes any and all other kinds of alternative art: weaving, sewing, pottery, quilting, woodwork, crafts, etc. Follow rules above for placing owner's information on the item, as far as possible. Information must NOT be visible to the judges.

 

4) All photography and art work is to be delivered to the Art Registration Desk in the lobby of Plaster Auditorium, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m., the morning of the February conference. Once the show has been judged and is over for the day, be sure to retrieve your items before you leave. OWL is not responsible for anything left at the close of the day.

 

5) Awards will be given for First, Second and Third Place in each of the categories, Photography, Art and Alternative Art. A "Best of Show" will also be awarded, which is the best of the First Place winners in the three categories.

 

6) If you'd like your photos entered in the Annual Cliff Edom Photo Contest, (see guidelines below) please leave them that day with the Contest Chair, Lonnie Whitaker.

 

NOTE: CLIFF EDOM ENTRIES MUST BE OZARKS-RELATED. THE FEBRUARY CONTEST DOES NOT NEED TO BE OZARKS-RELATED.


 Annual Cliff Edom Photography Contest
1. If mailed, must be received by the February meeting date.
2. Paperclip an index card to the back of the 5x7 or 8x10 matted photo, with the photographer's name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. Name may not appear anywhere on the photo .
3. Entries are judged on composition, use of available light, and appropriateness to the scene. The scene rotates each year. (2012 - People in the Ozarks, 2013 - Places in the Ozarks, 2014 - Things in the Ozarks) 
4. Entries will not be returned unless sufficient postage and envelopes are attached. Entries may also be picked up at the May meeting. If not, they will be destroyed. May enter up to five entries. 
5. Winner will receive a plaque or trophy.
Send your Cliff Edom entries to our contest chair at this address:
Pam Jones
226 Wedgeview Drive
Farmington, AR 72730
Cliff Edom founded the Photo-Journalism Department at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1943.  He created the Pictures of the Year Contest in 1944 and the Missouri Photo Workshop in 1949.   Cliff and his wife, Vi, charter members of OWL, published several books including, Twice Told Tales, An Ozarks Photo Album and Forty Years of Missouri Photo Workshops.   Cliff Edom died in 1991.
ANNUAL ECHOES OF THE OZARKS ANTHOLOGY CONTEST
(Short Story, Essay, Poem, or Photograph)
This contest is separate from the others with different rules.
 
1. Must be postmarked no later than September 1st.  Winners will be printed in the anthology.
2. Entries must be short stories, essays, poetry, or photographs. 3,000 words maximum on stories and essays, poems no longer than one page. Send electronically to louturn@aol.com.    Not responsible for lost e-mails if subject line does not say "Echoes Submission."  Single-spaced, 12 point, New Times Roman.  Poetry can also be sent in hard copy to preserve your preferred formatting.  One entry only.  Winners of OWL contests for the prior twelve months are encouraged to enter those winning entries.
3. Short stories and essays should either be set in the Ozarks, or be Ozarks-related by tone and voice.  These can be contemporary or historical.  Follow the same guidelines for poetry.  No photographs of people, unless their faces are hidden. Photos should also be Ozarks related. Previously published works will be accepted, just let us know where and when it was first published.
4.  Include a cover sheet with name, address, telephone, e-mail address, and number of years you have been a member of OWL.  Also, include word count and title of entry.  Include a fifty (50) word bio. If your work is selected and you haven't sent a bio, no bio will be included.  Are submissions are final, no edited versions of your original entry will be accepted.
5. No graphic violence or sex will be considered for this publication.
6. By submitting your work to this contest, you are allowing it to be edited and considered for publication.  If your work is chosen, you understand and agree with the conditions for publication.  Echoes of the Ozarks will require one time rights only.  The work can have been published elsewhere, and can be published again after Echoes of the Ozarks has been available for sale for a 30 day period.  No further contract will be required. Since this is a fundraiser for OWL, and due to the number of submissions being considered, no free copies will be distributed, but all contributors will be given the opportunity to purchase copies at the wholesale price.  
7. Submit electronic submissions to: louturn@aol.com.  If mailing a poem by snail mail, for proper formatting, send hard copy to:  
 
Lou Turner
2731 Cumberland Landing
St. Charles, MO 63303