Update from the Editors
2012 Prizes in Short Fiction and Nature Writing
Supporting writers at all stages of their careers is TW's mission. Even so, in the ever evolving and expanding online universe, we editors can miss new talent. It's almost impossible for us to keep up, and we recognize how daunting it can be for authors to connect with the right audiences.
That's why we're determined to find you.
We encourage all fiction writers and essayists to submit work in TW's two prize categories this year: short fiction and nature-themed creative nonfiction. Only one month remains before contest submissions close on November 1.
The 2012 Talking Writing Prizes for Short Fiction and Nature Writing honor the way online writers—from novice bloggers to literary luminaries—share their passionate, gut reactions with readers. We're looking for the essay or short story that only you can write. If you're not a writer yourself, please pass along this contest update to promising authors you know.
Since its inception, Talking Writing has showcased work by emerging writers. We've also nudged established authors to try new genres and to participate in online discussions. We've helped fiction writers nail down essay writing, published some of the first short stories penned by poets, and introduced authors to an international audience.
Talking Writing is one of a group of online magazines seeking to publish work that used to find a home only in print. As Carve, an online fiction magazine, noted when retweeting a TW contest announcement, this year's fiction prize will be "judged by David Cameron, a former Carve contributor. If you like us, you like them. Submit!"
David Cameron is also TW's fiction editor and previously spent a year as a reader for Tin House. His Carve short story, "And They Pillaged the Dead," was nominated for a Pushcart Award, and he has work forthcoming in Digital Americana. David knows well the effort involved in writing and submitting fiction. In his TW piece "My Stint as a Literary Doorman," he wryly observes:"I have a job, a wife, kids. Establishing space to write feels less like a regimented discipline and more like a search for illicit sex: Just get it when you can."
Steven Lewis, judge for this year's nature writing prize, is no stranger to the frustrations of an author's life himself. His popular Talking Writing column, Yawping Wild, focuses on nature. In one TW piece, “The Road We Never Traveled,” he puts it this way:
I grumble about the great, misunderstood American novel still sitting in my hard drive.... Then, like any creature that roams the earth or sea, I get back to the real work, to the keyboard, noting the wind, the currents, the scent, hunting and pecking, staving off hunger for one more day."
Steve is a longtime mentor at SUNY-Empire State College and a member of the Sarah Lawrence Writing Institute faculty. His articles and essays have appeared in the Washington Post, New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, and many other publications. His books include a recent collection of poems, A Month on a Barrier Island (Millrock Writers).
Both TW prizewinners will receive publication in Talking Writing and free admission to the 2013 AWP Conference next March in Boston, our hometown. All contest entries will also be reviewed by other editors here and considered for publication in the magazine.
If there's one thought we'd leave you with—beyond Enter Now!—it's this: Don't worry about perfect writing, pretty imagery, political correctness, happy endings, or whether you're "good enough." Just inspire us with stories that matter.
—Elizabeth Langosy and Martha Nichols
Frequently Asked Questions About TW Contests
Q: When is that deadline again?
A: November 1, 2012, for both the short fiction and nature writing prize categories.
Q: What's the AWP Conference and why is being there a great prize for writers?
A: The AWP annual conference brings together over 10,000 writers from across the country for panel discussions, readings by renowned authors, and an exhibition hall packed with the editors of literary magazines and small presses and the directors of writing programs. At the 2013 conference, the Talking Writing table will be staffed by Boston-area TW editors and writers. It's a great opportunity to hobnob and network.
Q: How much does it cost to enter a TW contest?
A: $15 for each contest entry. The fee for each entry offsets administrative costs and supports ongoing publication of TW.
Q: How many entries can I submit for each prize?
A: As many as you want for either the short fiction or nature writing prize categories, but you must pay $15 for each entry.
Q: Do I have to be a published writer to submit?
A: No. It's hard to get published these days, and part of TW's mission has always been to support new and emerging writers. Talking Writing welcomes work by authors of diverse backgrounds.
Q: Do I have to be an American citizen to submit to a TW contest?
A: No. All entries must be in English, however.
Q: How do I submit a contest entry?
A: Online—and it's easy! As with all TW submissions, you go through Submittable. For more details, click on the TW Contests page.
