WRITING CONTEST OPPORTUNITIES

WINTER/SPRING

2012 Young People’s Poetry Contest
Grades K-8
Submission Deadline: Monday, April 30
Public Reading: Tuesday, June 15, 5:30 pm
Celebrating National Young People’s Poetry Week. Students in kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to submit a poem on the topic of the student’s choice. One entry per student, please. Participation is FREE! Winners will be chosen in the following categories: *K-2nd grades, *3rd-5th grades, and *6th-8th grades. Please include a cover sheet with student’s name, age, grade, school, parent/guardian’s name, parent/guardian’s email, and parent/ guardian’s phone number. Students’ names should NOT appear on poems. Postmark or deliver submissions by April 30 to: Young People’s Poetry Contest, Carnegie Center, 251 W. Second St., Lexington, KY 40507. Finalists will be notified by May 18. Finalists will be invited to participate in the Young People’s Poetry reading at the Carnegie Center during Gallery Hop on June 15.

2012 6th Annual Next Great Writers Contest
Submission Deadline: Saturday, May 12
Public Reading: Friday, June 15, 7:30 pm
Writers are invited to submit manuscripts of fiction or nonfiction prose (up to 12 double-spaced pages) or poetry (up to 5 poems). There is a $10 fee per entry, payable to the Carnegie Center. Entries should also include a cover sheet complete with writer’s name, address, e-mail address, and phone number; names should NOT appear on the manuscript itself. Manuscripts cannot be returned. Entries must be received or postmarked by Saturday, May 12 at 2:00 pm. Send entries to: The Next Great Writers Contest, Carnegie Center, 251 W. Second St, Lexington, KY 40507. The cash prize is $150 for first place and $100 for second place. Winning authors and those selected to read will be notified by June 1. The Carnegie Center’s Next Great Writers Reading will take place Friday, June 15 at 7:30 pm. Up to 12 writers will be invited to read. Reading is open to the public.

SUMMER

2012 5th Annual Short Stories ONLY! Contest
Submission Deadline: July 27, 2012
Public Reading: Tuesday, August 21, 6:30 pm
Writers are invited to submit manuscripts of short fiction up to but not exceeding 2,500 words. Entries should include a cover letter complete with name, address, phone number, and email, along with a $10 entry fee, payable to the Carnegie Center. Author’s name should not appear on the manuscript itself. Manuscripts cannot be returned. The cash prize is $100 for first place and $50 for second place. Entries must be postmarked or received by July 27, 2012. Send entries to: Short Stories ONLY! Contest, Carnegie Center, 251 W. 2nd St. Lexington, KY 40507. Winners and finalists will be invited to read at the Short Stories Only Reading on Tuesday, August 21 at 6:30 pm. Reading is open to the public.

2012 Harriett A. Rose Legacies Contest
2012 Submission Deadline has already passed
Public Reading: Tuesday, March 27, 6:30 pm
Writers over age 55 are invited to submit poems, stories, essays, or memoirs drawn from the writer’s personal history. Manuscripts should be limited to 1,500 words (about five, typed, double-spaced pages, which may include up to five poems). There is a $10 reading fee per five-page entry, payable to the Carnegie Center. Entries should include name, address, e-mail address, phone number, and date of birth on a cover page, but NOT on the manuscript itself. Entries must be received or postmarked by Tuesday, February 21. Send entries to: The Harriett A. Rose Legacies Contest, Carnegie Center, 251 W. Second St,
Lexington, KY 40507. Entries will be judged by a qualified panel. First place winner receives $100 cash and the Harriett A. Rose Prize. Second place winner receives $50 cash. Winners and finalists will be invited to read at the Legacies Reading on Tuesday, March 27 at 6:30 pm. Reading is open to the public

LGBT Writing Contest
Supported by a generous grant from JustFund KY
Submission deadline and reading for 2012 has already passed.
Stay tuned for the 2013 LGBT Writing Contest!!!

LGBT writers and writers of LGB T-themed works are welcome to submit manuscripts of fiction and nonfiction prose (up to 2,000 words per entry) or poetry (up to 5 poems per entry).There is a $10 fee per entry, payable to the Carnegie Center. The cash prize is $300 for first place and $150 for second place. Contest winners and honorable mentions will be invited to read excerpts of their work at a public reading event at Carnegie slated for February 23 at 7:00PM. Entries should include a cover sheet with writer’s name, address, email address and phone number. Names should NOT appear on the manuscript. Entries must be postmarked (or dropped off) by Friday, December 16, at 5:00PM. Send or deliver entries to: LGBT Writing Contest, c/o Carnegie Center, 251 W. Second St., Lexington, Ky. 40507.