WD Popular Fiction Awards

A New Short Story Competition from Writer's Digest

Compete and Win in all 5 Categories!

The Grand Prize-Winner will receive $2,500 cash, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books, plus a manuscript critique and marketing advice from a Writers' Digest editor or advisory board member.

Entry Deadline: Tuesday, November 01, 2005.

For entrants paying with a credit card, we will accept manuscripts .

Compete and Win in 5 Categories!

  • Romance
  • Mystery/Crime Fiction
  • Sci-Fi/Fantasy
  • Thriller/Suspense
  • Horror

Entry Fee: All entries are $12.50

Grand Prize: $2,500 cash, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books, plus a manuscript critique and marketing advice from a Writers' Digest editor or advisory board member.

First Prize: The First Place-Winner in each of the five categories receives $500 cash, $100 worth of Writer's Digest Books, plus a manuscript critique and marketing advice from a Writers' Digest editor or advisory board member.

Honorable Mention: Honorable Mentions will receive promotion in Writer's Digest and the 2006 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.

For entrants paying with a credit card, we will accept manuscripts .

Entry Deadline: Tuesday, November 01, 2005

The Categories:

You may enter as many manuscripts as you like in each of the following categories: Romance, Mystery/Crime Fiction, Sci-fi/Fantasy, Thriller/Suspense and Horror. All manuscripts must be 4,000 words or fewer.

Preparing Your Entry:

  1. If you are submitting your entry via regular mail, the entry must be accompanied by an Official Entry Form or facsimile, and the required entry fee (credit card information, check or money order made payable to Writer's Digest). If you are entering more than one manuscript, you may mail all entries in the same envelope and write one check for the total entry fee; however, each manuscript must have its category indicated in the upper left-hand corner.
  2. Your entry must be original, in English, unpublished and unproduced, not accepted by any other publisher or producer at the time of submission. Writer's Digest retains one-time publication rights to the Grand Prize, First Prize, and Honorable Mention winning entries in each category to be published in a Writer's Digest publication.
  3. If you are submitting your entry via regular mail, the entry must be typed on one side of 8-1/2 x 11 white paper (computer printout acceptable) or A4 paper. Manuscripts must be double-spaced. Online entries may lose double-spacing. This WILL NOT result in disqualification. Your name, address, phone number and competition category must appear in the upper left-hand corner of the first page-otherwise your entry is disqualified.
  4. Be sure of your word count! Entries exceeding the word limit will be disqualified. Type the exact word count (counting every single word, except the title) at the top of the manuscript.
  5. Mailed entries must be stapled (preferred) or paper-clipped.
  1. Every entry will be read by the judges. Judges' decisions are final.
  2. Judges reserve the right to re-categorize entries.
  3. Entries must be postmarked by Tuesday, November 01, 2005. We cannot return submitted manuscripts; however, to receive notification of the receipt of your manuscript, send a self-addressed stamped postcard along with your entry.
  4. The following are not permitted to enter the contest: employees of , and their immediate family members; Writer's Digest contributing editors and correspondents as listed on our masthead; Writer's Online Workshops instructors; and Grand Prize Winners from the previous three years in any Writer's Digest competitions.
  5. Top Award Winners will be notified by mail before March 1, 2006. Winners will be listed in the July 2006 issue of Writer's Digest.


For questions, contact Terri Boes at (513) 531-2690 ext. 1328 or email


Occasionally we make portions of our customer list available to other companies so they may contact you about products and services that may be of interest to you. If you prefer we withhold your name, simply send a note with your name, address, and the competition name to: List Manager, F+W Publications, 4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236.

To submit your entry online, visit our .

To enter via regular mail, use the  

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 and send it with your manuscript and entry fee to:

WD Popular Fiction Awards
4700 E. Galbraith Road
Cincinnati, OH 45236

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Writing Contests
The Writer's Digest 6th Annual Short Short Story Competition

The Writer's Digest is looking for fiction that's bold, brilliant...but brief. Send us your best in 1,500 words or fewer.
But don't be too long about it-the deadline is Thursday, December 01, 2005.

PRIZES
First Place: $3,000
Second Place: $1,500
Third Place: $500
Fourth Through Tenth Place: $100
Eleventh Through Twenty-Fifth Place: $50 gift certificate for Writer's Digest Books

* The First-Place winner has the option of a FREE "Best Seller Publishing Package" from .

* The names and story titles of the First-through Tenth-Place winners will be printed in the June 2006 Writer's Digest, and winners will receive the 2006 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market.

The 6th Annual Writer's Digest SHORT SHORT STORY COMPETITION COLLECTION is sponsored by

The 1st- through 25th-place manuscripts will be printed in a special competition collection, published by . Use the entry form to order your copy or using a credit card. Order now to receive the 50%-off, pre-publication special price. (Publication date: May, 2006. You are not required to to enter the competition.)

For entrants paying with a credit card, we will accept .

The Rules

1. The competition is open to manuscripts of 1,500 words or fewer. Entries outside the word limitation will be disregarded. Type the word count on the first page of your entry along with your name, address, phone number and email address.

2. The entry fee is $12 per manuscript. You may enter as many manuscripts as you wish. You may send one check (in U.S. funds) and one for all entries. If you are submitting your entry via regular mail, you may send one check (in U.S. funds) and one entry form for all entries.

3. All entries must be in English, original, unpublished, and not submitted elsewhere until the winners are announced. Writer's Digest reserves the one-time publication rights to the 1st-t through 25th-place winning entries to be published in a Writer's Digest publication.

4. If you are submitting your entry via regular mail, all entries must be typewritten and double-spaced on one side of 8-1/2 x 11 or A4 white paper. Manuscripts will not be returned.

5. Entries must be postmarked by Thursday, December 01, 2005.

6. Winners will be notified by February 10, 2006. If you have not been contacted by this date, you may assume that your entry is not a finalist and may be marketed elsewhere.

7. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard with your entry if you want to be notified of its receipt. We cannot notify you personally of your story's status before the winners are announced. If entering , you will receive a confirmation email for each entry you submit.

8. Winners' names will appear in the June 2006 issue of Writer's Digest magazine. Their names and story titles will be posted at .

9. The following are not permitted to enter the competition: employees of F&W Publications, Inc., and their immediate families and Writer's Digest contributing editors and correspondents as listed on the masthead.

Privacy Promise
Occasionally we make portions of our customer list available to other companies so they may contact you about products and services that may be of interest to you. If you prefer we withhold your name, simply send a note with your name, address and the competition name to: List Manager, F&W Publications, 4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236.

is proud to sponsor the 6th annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition Collection. We love helping make author's dreams come true. In fact, since 1995 has helped more than 5,000 authors publish over 7,000 new titles around the world. If your short story is part of a book or you have a separate manuscript you want to publish we welcome you to visit our or give us a call-we'll even send you a free guide which explains how publishing your book is easier than you might think.

We wish you all the best with your contest submission.


toll-free: 1-888-232-4444 ext 1587