By Donna Campbell Smith, FCAC
The Franklin County Arts Council (FCAC) Writers’ Guild is accepting submissions for a writing contest and the yearly journal. Authors and artists are encouraged to submit entries for either, or both, opportunities.
Carolina Prize Contest
FCAC’s Writers’ Guild is sponsoring its second annual FCAC Writers’ Guild “Carolina Prize in Writing” contest. The contest is open to previously unpublished– this includes online publication — poetry, short stories, and essays or creative non-fiction.
This year two prizes will be awarded: one for prose and the other poetry. Each prize will be $100, page one publication in the 2017 issue of County Lines: A Literary Journal, and two free copies of the journal. Up to five honorable mentions will also be named. These will receive publication in County Lines and one free copy.
Entry Fees are $10 for each entry. Writers may enter as many times as they wish. Authors should be submitted entries separately and include entry number (if multiple entries) on the subject line. Checks for entry fees should be made payable to the Franklin County Arts Council with “Contest entry” in the memo. There are no refunds.
The writing contest submission period ends September 15, 2016.
All submissions should be blind — having no identifying info — but accompanied by a cover sheet with the title of the piece and the writer’s contact information. The Writers’ Guild judges will reject any entries with offensive language or derogatory comments toward any person or group.
Other guidelines include:
- Poems: Maximum 30 lines (1-3 poems counts as one entry)
- Short stories: Double spaced, 12 point font, Maximum 5 pages. (Each story is one entry)
- Essays/Creative non-fiction: Double-spaced, 12 point font, Maximum 3 pages. No Op-ed pieces. (Each is one entry.)
Call to Writers and Artists
For writers not planning to enter the contest, but interested in submitting for County Lines: A Literary Journal, the journal’s “Call to Writers and Artists” is open and submissions being accepted.
The Franklin County Arts Council Writers Guild is calling for writers of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction for submissions to be considered in their 2017 issue.
Submissions are also being accepted for black-and-white art and photography for the book interior, and color art for the cover. A cash prize of $25 will be awarded to the artist whose work is chosen for the book cover.
Accepted contributors will receive a copy of County Lines when published later this year. The current (2015) issue of County Lines: A Literary Journal is available for purchase at the UpFront Gallery in downtown Franklinton NC and online from Amazon.com.
To obtain a copy of the writers and artists guidelines email that request to CountyLinesLiteraryJournal@gmail.com. The deadline for journal submissions is September 15, 2016.
