Annual $5,550 Tom Howard Short Story, Essay & Prose Contest

A no-frills site, this page provides essential information on the $5,550 short story, essay and prose contest only.

Each year, John Howard Reid and Tom Howard Books sponsor three Writing Contests, one for prose and two for poetry. These Contests are open to all writers worldwide, although please note that all entries must be written in English.

SUMMARY for The Tom Howard Short Story, Essay and Prose Contest, deadline March 31, 2010: Entries for Contest 18 will be accepted from July 15, 2009. Prize money will amount to $5,550. The entry fee will be $15. Cash prizes for Contest 18 will be: First Prize of $3,000; Second Prize of $1,000; Third Prize of $400; Fourth Prize of $250. In addition, six cash prizes of $150 each will be awarded, making a grand total of $5,550.

You can buy from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other bookstores. What's $12.50 compared to increasing your chances of carrying off that $3,000 in cash First Prize? If you would prefer the First Edition rather than the revised, expanded edition above, please click this link below:

The 18th annual John Howard Reid & Tom Howard Short Story, Essay and Prose Contest will open on July 15, 2009.

$5,550 total prize pool!

First Prize: $3,000

Second Prize: $1,000

Third Prize: $400. Fourth prize: $250

Plus six Most Highly Commended Awards of $150 each.

Please note that the judges will endeavor to award at least one of the cash prizes this year to a humorous story, essay or article.

This contest will close on March 30, 2010.

It's a smart idea to take a look at the entries that have won major prizes in previous years. The bookstore edition of "Watching Time" was out of print for over a year. One store even sold a copy for $145.00, even though you could always buy proof copies -- and you can still buy proof copies -- at http://www.lulu.com/filmindex for only $12.95 and even preview some of the stories free of charge. But now the trade edition has again sold out at most book stores. Fortunately, Amazon still have copies. As the book is once again officially out of print, you will find trade edition copies now selling for over $75 elsewhere, so my advice is to buy a copy from Amazon while stocks last for only $12.95.

Another piece of good news is that a previous anthology of winning stories, "Mr Christian and the Bag Lady" is also now available from Amazon.

Although the theme for stories and essays is open (the subject matter is your choice), it's also helpful to know what particular subjects and themes may be of special interest to the judge. You can find out simply by clicking the Amazon links (see below) to the judge's own books, "Micaela Morris in Jo's Heaven" and "Mexican Autumn". You don't have to buy the books, of course. Just reading the descriptions at Amazon will give you some clues.

Your story or prose piece should be no longer than 5,000 words. There is no minimum length. Closing date is March 31, 2010. You can send as many entries as you like. You can also enter stories, essays or articles that have already been published or even won prizes in other contests (so long as you hold the online publication rights). Unpublished stories are certainly most welcome too! In fact, the judges are positively eager to discover new authors and boost the literary careers of gifted writers.

All fifteen winning stories/essays will be published on the WINNING WRITERS web site. At his discretion, the publisher may also from time to time offer selected winning works print publication in an Anthology similar to WATCHING TIME. Writers are completely free to accept or decline such an invitation.

It is recommended that intending entrants read either some of the previous winning stories and essays included in the anthologies, "MR CHRISTIAN AND THE BAG LADY" and "WATCHING TIME", or the Chief Judge's own collections, "MICAELA MORRIS IN JO'S HEAVEN" which includes work that has won major awards (including two first prizes) in other competitions; or, if you are feeling more adventurous, "MEXICAN AUTUMN" which contains a title story awarded First Prize by the judge of a British-based contest that attracted nearly 1,000 entries from around the world.

Unfortunately, as noted above, the trade edition of "WATCHING TIME" has almost sold out, but you can still buy the book for $12.95 at Amazon. You can also order beautifully printed proof copies direct from the publisher at http://www.lulu.com/filmindex (you will need to scroll right down to the bottom of the page).

Entry forms are not necessary for this contest, but by entering you agree to abide by all its conditions. Decisions by the Chief Judge are final.

You retain all rights. For instance, you are free to submit your work to other Contests and are free to accept or decline any offers of print publication.

ENTRY FEE: $15 per story/essay.

Maximum length: 5,000 words.

No minimum length requirements. No restrictions on the type or theme of the stories or prose pieces you may submit. Send as many entries as you like!

Entries must be postmarked on or before March 31, 2010, or lodged online before midnight, March 31, 2010, Pacific Time.

Online submission using your credit card or PayPal will be available at Winning Writers from July 15, 2009. Please use this link: http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/tomstory/ts_guidelines.php

Please send postal submissions to Winning Writers, Attention Tom Howard Short Story Contest, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060-3961, USA. Make all checks, etc., payable to Winning Writers.

Chief judge: John Howard Reid. Associate judge: Dee C. Konrad.

We very much regret we cannot return entries. Please make sure you keep a copy. Also we cannot retrieve an entry to make alterations. However, you can always submit a revised version of your entry by paying another entry fee.