Writing Contests Part 1

Hear ye! Hear ye! The Truth About Princesses, my latest picture book is now available. Ths book is all aout popular fairy tale princesses. Where do princesses live? If you should meet a princess, how do you address her? Find out what princesses wear and what they do to have fun. Twirl through the pages of this book and catch up on all the princess fun.

Teachers, check out Class activities on my website, www.nancykellyallen.com for fun ways to use this book.

Now, on to the writing contests. These have no fees and are legitimate.

1. HIGHLIGHTS 2010 FICTION CONTEST
Fiction based on a true story from your family.
PRIZES:
Three prizes of $1,000 or tuition for the Highlights Foundation Writers Workshop at Chautauqua.
ENTRY DATES:
All entries must be postmarked between January 1 and January 31, 2010.
RULES:
No entry form or fee is required.
*Entrants must be at least 16 years old at the time of submission.
We welcome work from both published and unpublished authors. All submissions must be previously unpublished.
Stories may be any length up to 750 words. Stories for beginning readers should not exceed 475 words. Indicate the word count in the upper right-hand corner of the first page of your manuscript.
No crime, violence, or derogatory humor.
Entries not accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope will not be returned.
Manuscripts or envelopes should be clearly marked FICTION CONTEST. Those not marked in this way will be considered as regular submissions to Highlights.
SEND ENTRIES TO:
FICTION CONTEST
Highlights for Children
803 Church Street
Honesdale, PA 18431
WINNERS:
The three winning entries will be announced on Highlights.com in June 2010. These stories will become the property of Highlights for Children and will be published by Highlights. All other submissions will be considered for purchase by Highlights.
* We're sorry that we cannot consider contest entries from children under the age of 16. Young writers are welcome to submit their work for consideration elsewhere in the magazine. Guidelines are available on HighlightsKids.com.

2. 2010 Breakthrough Novel Award
Amazon.com, along with Penguin Group (USA) and CreateSpace, is pleased to announce the third annual Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, the international competition seeking the next popular novel. For the first time, the competition will award two grand prizes: one for General Fiction and one for Young Adult Fiction. The 2010 competition will also now be open to novels that have previously been self-published. Each winner will receive a publishing contract with Penguin, which includes a $15,000 advance.
Congratulations to last year's Breakthrough Novel Award winner, James King, whose winning novel, Bill Warrington's Last Chance, will be published by Viking in August 2010. Bill Loehfelm's Fresh Kills, the 2008 winner, is now available in paperback.
The Breakthrough Novel Award brings together talented writers, reviewers, and publishing experts to find and develop new voices in fiction. If you're an author with an unpublished or previously self-published novel waiting to be discovered, visit CreateSpace to learn more about the next Breakthrough Novel Award and sign up for regular updates on the contest. Open submissions for manuscripts will begin on January 25, 2010 through February 7, 2010.
See the official contest rules for more information on how to enter.

Next week, I'll post three more contests. The window of opportunity is short so check the time frame for the entries.Good luck to all.