1)  Eligibility Requirements: The contest is open to all.  SWA members receive entry fee discounts.

    2)  Categories:

                        a. Fiction (3,500 words or less)

                        b. Poetry (up to three poems with no word limit)

                        c. Non-Fiction (1,500 words or less in the personal essay genre only)        

    3)  Deadline: Entries must be received IN HAND NOT POSTMARKED by February 1, 2012         

    4)  Proof of Delivery: You may enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with your entry for delivery    

                      receipt.

    5)  Prizes:  Three prizes in each category: First Prize: $100; Second Prize: $75; Third Prize: $50. The complete list of

                         winners will be published in the SWA Newsletter and will be available at around the same time on SWA's

                         website at www.seacoastwritersassociation.org. Prizes with be mailed to winners.

                      per entry in each category. (Three poems in the Poetry category will count as one entry.)

                      Please enclose the entry fee with your submission, check payable to: Seacoast Writers

                      Association. (We can not accept Canadian money orders or checks.)

     7)  Optional: SWA Membership: Membership dues are $25 per year. An additional (separate check)

                      will make you a member and, as such, eligible for the lower fees as well as other membership

                      benefits.

      8)  Manuscript requirements:

                        *  Manuscripts must be your own original work and must not have been previously published

                        *  You may submit one entry each in the Fiction and/or Nonfiction categories. Up to three

                            poems may be

    submitted in the Poetry Category.

*  Send two (2) copies of each submission.

*  Manuscripts must be typed, one-sided, double-spaced, on white 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper.

   Poetry only may be single spaced. Type font should be 12-point or higher. Photocopies are

   acceptable so long as they are of good quality.

*  The TITLE ONLY must appear at the top of each page of the manuscript. DO NOT PUT

   YOUR NAME ON THE MANUSCRIPT ITSELF. Entries are submitted anonymously to the

   judges. Fill out the accompanying entry form and include it with your manuscript.

   SWA will assign an identification number to the entry form and will annotate your

   manuscript with that number. The entry form will be maintained separately from the

   manuscript to ensure that judging is entirely on the basis of anonymous entries.

                        *  Please retain copies of your manuscript(s). SWA cannot return submissions.

Publication rights: In entering the contest, you assign rights to SWA to publish any first, second or third place winning entries in Currents, SWA’s anthology, and post first, second or third place winning entries on the SWA website for a limited time (usually one month.) You will retain all other rights.

Judges: Each year, SWA obtains objective and qualified judges for the respective contest categories. The decision of the judges is final. We are not able to provide feedback on individual entries. The judges general feedback and criteria will be posted after the contest is complete on the SWA website.Judges are asked to give SWA a copy of their remarks which will also be published in the summer SWA newsletter.