Iron Pyramid Writing Contest Update: New Contest Open Now!
March 20th 2007 03:44
The following is an update added to my recent blog post about Iron Pyramid Publications' Writing Contest, which had previously been slated to run from April 1st to April 30th, 2007:
UPDATE 3/19/07: I've just learned that the new contest is open NOW, as R.D. has apparently decided not to wait until April 1st to begin accepting submissions, after all. So, if short stories are your literary 'cup of tea,' sharpen those pencils, fire up those computers, and get a head start on your entry! As far as I know, the deadline is still the same: April 30th.
For more info about the contest, see my March 17th blog post, Iron Pyramid's Latest Writing Contest Winner: 'Yours Truly'! New Contest Coming Soon!
Good luck!
Jeanne
P.S. New to short story writing? Or just a little rusty at it? Have a fantastic idea for a story and the writing skills to pull it off, but just need a little guidance in putting it all together? Check out this link: Short Stories: 10 Tips for Novice Creative Writers. It's a fairly in-depth resource that dissects and explains each element of the literary form--a resource that just might help make you a contender in the highly competitive short story market--not to mention the highly competitive short story contest! Even seasoned short fiction writers can find something of interest here.
Here are two other links that might prove helpful in your quest to win short story contests:
1. Short-Story Competitions: Increasing Your Chances of Winning.
2. Writers-Editors.com Contest Tip Sheet.
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Comment by Anonymous
Even funnier, he's now upped the prize money to $100, but with a stipulation -- you must purchase a copy of HIS book prior to the April 30 deadline.
What a con.
P.S. I read your story. It's fantastic. Even R.D. has taste on occasion.
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Good to hear from you again! I appreciate your desire to champion the cause of writers who you feel might be taken advantage of by unscrupulous publishers! It's very commendable of you to share your thoughts with us on these matters, since you obviously have nothing to gain from the exercise--as we don't even know who you are!
Thanks, too, for your generous compliment on my winning entry in the Iron Pyramid Writing Contest!
I will briefly (I hope!) give you my (preliminary) views on the I.P. contest, which you refer to as a 'con':
First of all, I was aware that R.D. was planning to produce an anthology--and, yes, I do admit that red flags tend to go up at times like that! However, I have also noticed that the price he is charging for his own anthology--the one he is selling as an incentive to contest entrants to double their prize--is rather low ($10 plus $2 S&H, in comparison to many other contest producers/publishers' writing collections, such as the Poetry.com anthology, which runs $50, plus, I believe, another $25 if you'd like your bio included. This is highway robbery!) Of course, at this point, I have no idea how much he generally charges for the anthologies in which the contest entries are published, and this is one reason why the 'jury's still out.'
But, as mentioned previously, I'm willing to give R.D. the benefit of the doubt until I see some real evidence that he is attempting to take advantage of the poor, struggling writer.
Second, I'm not really certain I see anything unethical in his attempt to use his own low-priced anthology as an incentive for writers to up their prize money. (Is it really any worse than charging an entry fee, which many publishers do?) It seems, after all, to be just another normal marketing strategy that a small publisher might need to use in order to keep his company afloat. But time will tell! So, again, I say, "Stay tuned."
(And by the way, I think it only fair to point out that, should the contestant not choose to buy R.D.'s own anthology, that fact would not adversely affect his or her eligibility for the $50 prize. The prize would simply not be doubled if this person should win--unlike the publishers who charge an entry fee, whose contests one would not be eligible to enter at all, should one choose not to pay the fee. In this contest, the writer at least has a choice, which, these days, seems to be a rather rare commodity.)
Again, Anonymous, thanks for your info and input! It is warmly received and greatly appreciated! Hope to hear from you again!
Regards,
Jeanne
P.S. Have you read my reply to your first comment (made in response to my original post about the I.P. Writing Contest?) Just wanted to make sure you knew I'd responded.