[From Martin Livings]
Yes, it’s, it’s come around again, the AHWA Short Story and Flash Fiction Competition is now open for 2014. Our judges are lined up and eager, so go ahead, do your worst!
(and by worst, of course, I mean best…)
What We’re After: Horror stories, tales that frighten, yarns that unsettle us in our comfortable homes. All themes in this genre will be accepted, from the well-used (zombies, vampires, ghosts etc) to the highly original, so long as the story is professional and well written. No previously published entries will be accepted – all tales must be an original work by the author. Stories can be as violent or as bloody as the storyline dictates, but those containing gratuitous sex or violence will not be considered.
There are two categories for submission:
FLASH FICTION
Stories up to 1000 words in length. The winning author will receive paid publication in Midnight Echo; The Magazine of the AHWA and an engraved plaque.
SHORT STORY
Stories with 1001 to 8000 words. The winning author will receive paid publication in Midnight Echo; The Magazine of the AHWA and an engraved plaque.
ENTRY DETAILS
- Entries Open: January 7th 2014
- Entries Close: May 31st 2014
Writers may submit to one or both categories, but entry is limited to 1 story per author per category. No simultaneous submissions.
Any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Prizes: the authors of the winning Flash Fiction and Short Story entries will each receive paid publication in Midnight Echo; The Magazine of the AHWA and an engraved plaque. Plus the adulation of millions.
(Legal note: your value of “millions” may vary. And “adulation”.)
Entry Fee:
- AHWA Members have free entry.
- Non-AHWA Members: $5 for flash fiction, $10 for short story entries.
Secure payments can be made via PayPal using our PayPal ID (please note, this is different to the competitions email address!):
ahwa@australianhorror.com
Alternative payment options are available; please contact us at ahwacomps@australianhorror.com and we will provide appropriate details.
All entries should be submitted via the web form here:
http://ahwacomps.martinlivings.com/
Mail submissions will ONLY be accepted as a last resort (we would prefer electronic submissions to save the trees); please contact us before sending anything through.
Please edit your manuscripts carefully before sending them through to us; it’s amazing how much careless typos or grammatical errors can put a reader off, so don’t go shooting yourself in the foot, let the story come through unhindered!
Also, please ensure your manuscript is formatted in standard manuscript format. The best thing to do is use the RTF template provided here:
http://ahwacomps.martinlivings.com/AWHAtemplate.rtf
Stories not using this format may be discarded without being considered, so please do use this template. You’ll make our lives easier, and increase your own chances of being judged fairly.
Contact ahwacomps@australianhorror.com if you have any further questions.
2014 Judges
PAUL MANNERING is an award winning author based in Wellington, New Zealand. He has published dozens of short stories, and edited two themed anthologies. His Tankbread trilogy is published by Permuted Press and he has two more novels scheduled for publication in 2014. http://permutedpress.com/authors/paul-mannering
TALIE HELENE is a writer and musician, from Melbourne, Australia. She has published fiction, poetry, and an extensive folio of music journalism. She is perhaps best well known as horror editor of The Year’s Best Australian Fantasy & Horror series (Ticonderoga Publications). You can learn more about Talie’s interdisciplinary adventures at http://www.taliehelene.com
ZENA SHAPTER is a British-Australian author who’s won seven national fiction writing competitions (including this one!). She’s also represented by literary agent Alex Adsett, leads the widely attended Northern Beaches Writers’ Group (whose collaborative writing has also won awards) and gives regular talks/tutorials on creative writing and social media (because, after all, she is part-cyber!). http://www.zenashapter.com
