Only one way to make it happen:
Submit your story!
In addition to a full year of promotion, a $1000 prize will be presented to the new Pen Parentis Writing Fellow at a public reading of the winning work in Manhattan on Tuesday, September 10, 2013. Entrants must be the parent of at least one child under 10 years of age, but there are no style or genre limitations on the works of fiction submitted for consideration. Entrants can be at any level of their literary careers.
Submissions call for a new, never-published fiction story—any genre, on any subject—of up to 1200 words (typed double-spaced on 8 ½ x 11 paper in Times New Roman 12 point or similar font, with one inch margins). Do not put author's name on this manuscript. Do put the title of the story and the word count. Please note: we change word count each year because one of our missions is to keep parents working--the creation of new work is one of our goals.
Please retype the title of the story and word count on an extra cover page along with author's name, full contact information, and age of author's child(ren). Financial status, prior publication, and hardship stories do not aid your application. Judging is blind. If you are submitting electronically, be sure to include this identifying cover page in the same file as your identity-stripped manuscript. (They will be separated before judging begins, just as with mailed-in submissions.)
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The contest seeks submissions starting March 1 and ends the submission period April 17, 2013 (postmark deadline). For the first time, we will also accept electronic submissions in 2013. Whether you submit by regular mail or electronically, the cover page is required, as well as anonymity on all consecutive pages.
Judging is blind and based only on the following criteria:
All genres and styles of fiction are welcome. No plays or poetry (we love them, but sorry, no.) Novel excerpts are acceptable if they can stand alone as a story. Simultaneous submissions ok, but notify if published elsewhere. Multiple submissions ok, but separate entry fee for each submission. Entry fees will not be refunded. Previous winners of this fellowship are not eligible. Finalists are welcome to try again.
Entry is $25. Authors whose profiles are featured on the Pen Parentis website may enter at a discounted rate. If you are a Pen Parentis Author in good standing be sure you are logged in to view a special offer.
Pen Parentis Supporters! If you would like a discount, please send your submission by regular mail with "I joined the juggling act" on the cover page. Your entry fee will be reduced to $15. Thank you for your constant support, good luck, and happy writing!
Mail entries to: Pen Parentis Writing Fellowship for New Parents, 176 Broadway, Ste. 14F, New York, NY, 10038. You may include a stamped, self-addressed postcard if you wish receipt to be acknowledged. No SASE required as manuscripts will not be returned.
Winner will be announced on the Pen Parentis website and by email or phone to the winning author on or before August 1, 2013. Please make sure that author contact information includes either email or phone or both.
One winning author will be showcased for one year on our website as the "Pen Parentis Writing Fellow," a new emergent author worthy of notice. The Fellow will receive a public showcase of the winning new work in a stunning literary location in New York City, paired with an established author who may function as inspiration and guide (2010's winner, Abby Sher, read with Jennifer Egan and Darin Strauss, 2011's winner, Frank Haberle, read with Sarah Gardner Borden and Rebecca Wolff, 2012's winner Sarah Gerkensmeyer read with John Reed, Theodore Hamm, and Rene Steinke). Winner also receives $1000, presented at the Pen Parentis Literary Salon on September 10th, 2013, in conjunction with the reading of the winning work. Pen Parentis will publicize this reading for the author and will provide author with any press clips that mention author's name. Pen Parentis encourages, but does not require, attendance to subsequent Salons in order to 1) be introduced to other authors and 2) network with prospective editors, agents, and readers. Finally, Pen Parentis will feature the winner on our website for one year, updating his/her accomplishments to the community as notified, and will link to their author website and/or blog, if any, and will promote the author when he/she attends regular Pen Parentis author salon events.
Important note: Entrants must be the parent of at least one child under 10 yrs old. While we accept submissions from anywhere, applicants are advised that there is no provided travel budget. Winners are responsible for their own transportation costs to the reading location in Manhattan.
The Pen Parentis Fellowship is generously supported by a grant from the Sustainable Arts Foundation in California and individual donors. Corporate support is provided by the Hyatt/Andaz Hotel chain, Fractured Atlas, and Wall and Water at Andaz Wall Street.
