2011 Timberglen Short Story Contest Rules

2011 Timberglen Fiction Contest Rules

1. Entries to consist of fiction in prose form, no more than 3,000 words, in 12 point Times New Roman type, double spaced. The title must appear at the top of each page, and pages should be numbered. The writer’s name is not to appear anywhere but on the entry form. Plagiarism is not allowed.

2. Entries may be sent electronically to timberglenwriters@gmail.com, or delivered in person or sent by mail to: Timberglen Writers’ Workshop, 18505 Midway Rd., Dallas, TX 75287. One entry per person. Entry deadline is May 7, 2011.

3. Entries must be in English. Writers retain all rights to their work. The winner’s name and work’s title will appear on our blog and on the Timberglen bulletin board.

4. Members past and present of the Timberglen Writers’ Workshop are ineligible. Membership is defined as those who have ever submitted any work to the Timberglen Writers’ Workshop. Employees of the Dallas Public Library are also ineligible.

5. Winners will be chosen by current members of the Timberglen Writers’ Workshop. All entries will be judged on originality, creativity, and theme. The decision is final.

To join our group, simply email your request, including your name and email address, to timberglenwriters@gmail.com. This will enable you to receive submissions from others, which we critique when we meet on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month in the classroom (lobby entrance) from 6:00-7:00 pm.

The Best cliffhanger ever

Today I am issuing a challenge to novella and novel writers. I want you to write the best cliffhanger of a chapter ending that you possibly can.

Start off by ensuring that the reader is drawn into the chapter. Use hooks at the beginning of the chapter, and dig them deeper as the chapter continues. By the time you get to the end, find a way to make them hungry and greedy for more. Much more, so much more.

I noticed that some authors don't end a chapter with a cliffhanger, and then satisfy the reader's curiosity and interest in the very next chapter. Some of them do it a little bit later. Whether you take that tact or not largely depends on whether you are writing a thick book or not.

Nevertheless, readers will keep turning the pages, and going on to the next chapter if you will just dig good hooks, and write great cliffhangers.

Are you up to the challenge?

Cliffhangers

If the last words in a chapter indicate that one of the main characters snatches a folder and left, would you want to read the next chapter? I would, and did. This is one example of a cliffhanger used in The Left Behind Series. The book that I reference is THE REMNANT, chapter three.

It's one of many examples of cliffhangers used by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. They worked.

They will work for you - because cliffhangers still work.

Happy writing!

Short Story Contest Entry Form

2011 Timberglen Short Story Contest Entry Form

Name:______________________________Age (if under 21) ____

Please DO NOT have your name appear on the short story manuscript itself.

Email:________________________________________________

Phone:________________________________________________

Title:_________________________________________________


I hereby certify that the work submitted in this Contest is one hundred percent my own, original thought and writing and thus does not infringe on any other author’s copyright.

Signed__________________________________ Date________


FOR OUR RECORDS:
Have you ever been a member of a writers’ group or workshop?_________________________________

How interested are you in having your fiction improve by having it critiqued by others?______________________________________

Indicate here an interest in receiving a one-page information sheet on our group to be sent via email:________________________________

Good luck!

Timberglen Writers Workshop
timberglenwriters@gmail.com
PLEASE COPY/PASTE THE ABOVE ONTO A WORD DOCUMENT AND INCLUDE IT WHEN YOU ENTER YOUR STORY ELECTRONICALLY TO OUR EMAIL ADDRESS.

Words You've Never Heard Of

CLICK HERE.

Short Story Submission

You have to click on it to get it large enough to read.

A Lot

Always used as two words. Alot is not a word. CLICK HERE.