The folks over at JournalStone are holding a contest for your cherished horror manuscript.  A full-length novel contest is not something I’ve seen before in this contest where the winner gets the contract the advance ($2,000) and so forth.  Seems a bit odd to me, but then again, I am still learning this business.  If you have a horror manuscript that’s finished you may want to get into this.  However, I’d double-check who JournalStone has published, what their sales are and what their contract terms are.  DEFINITELY run the contract through a copyright lawyer before you sign (assuming you win)  The deadlines is June 1st and they want manuscripts over 75,000 words.

On a side-note, their site looks pretty good and it appears as if they do maintain a blog and a list of literary agents.  Their stock just went up in my opinion.

Contest Listing

Website

New / unpublished short story writers need to bookmark this market!  On The Premises has put out a call for submission to their upcoming themed contest.  The theme is based on a question:  “One or more characters try to answer an unusually difficult question of great importance to them.”  Figure between 1,000 and 5,000 words and the deadline is January 29th, 2011.  Because this is a contest, be CERTAIN to review their contest submission guidelines before sending anything.  Although they don’t charge an entry fee, they do offer a critique of your story for $10 if you are interested.

Contest Listing

Website

So, want to hit a big market?  Writer’s Digest is having a little contest.  The pun was intended.  They’re normally looking for a flash piece (750 words or less) based on their prompt (see the site).  This time, however, they want 100 words or lest as the opening to a photograph they have posted on their site.  The prize is $100 in Writer’s Digest Books and publication in an upcoming issue.  This is a pretty good place to get a writing credit for if you ask me.  The deadline is January 10^th, 2011.  If you can’t come up with 100 words by next year, you suck. 

Writing Contest

Website