Southern New Hampshire University is on the lookout for fantastic short stories for its second annual SNHU Fall Fiction Short Story Competition. Participants have an opportunity to be published in The Penmen Review, SNHU's online journal for creative writers, and win up to $3,000 in SNHU scholarships.
The competition is open to everyone. Entries can cover any theme or topic, as long as they're original and no more than 1,500 words. The judging panel consists of SNHU faculty, staff, alumni and professional writers, along with popular vote. Submissions open at 9 am on Monday, Nov. 7, 2016, and will close at 11:59 pm EDT on Wednesday, November 30, 2016. Public voting begins on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. View prizes packages below.
Prize packages will be awarded in five tiers, with scholarships awarded to the top three finishers in the fall fiction competition:
FIRST PRIZE:
- $3,000 SNHU scholarship (to be used for any online bachelor's or master's degree program)
- "Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2017 (39th Annual Edition)" by Rachel Randall
- Autographed copy of "The Neverland Wars" by SNHU alumna Audrey Greathouse
- Feature profile piece on SNHU website
- Short story featured in The Penmen Review
- Award plaque
SECOND PRIZE:
- $2,000 SNHU scholarship (to be used for any online bachelor's or master's degree program)
- "Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2017 (39th Annual Edition)" by Rachel Randall
- Autographed copy of "The Neverland Wars" by SNHU alumna Audrey Greathouse
- Short story featured in The Penmen Review
- Award plaque
THIRD PRIZE:
- $1,000 SNHU scholarship (to be used for any online bachelor's or master's degree program)
- "Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2017 (39th Annual Edition)" by Rachel Randall
- Autographed copy of "The Neverland Wars" by SNHU alumna Audrey Greathouse
- Short story featured in The Penmen Review
- Award plaque
FOURTH PRIZE:
- "Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2017 (39th Annual Edition)" by Rachel Randall
- Autographed copy of "The Neverland Wars" by SNHU alumna Audrey Greathouse
FIFTH PRIZE:
- "Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2017 (39th Annual Edition)" by Rachel Randall
- Autographed copy of "The Neverland Wars" by SNHU alumna Audrey Greathouse
Short story submissions must be:
- Double-spaced
- Submitted as a Word document
- Formatted with the writer's name and contact info at the top left of the page
- Titled with FALL FICTION COMPETITION at the top left of the first page
- No longer than 1,500 words
In submitting an entry, you are acknowledging that SNHU has the right to publish your entry and use your words, name and likeness in related marketing materials.
The top five submissions will be announced on Dec. 15, 2016, and published on The Penmen Review for public voting. All winners will be chosen on the basis of judges' selection and public vote.
Top prizewinners in SNHU's 2015 Fall Fiction Competition included first-place winner Syche Phillips for "Genesis," second-place winner Michele Meehan for "Goldfish God" and third-place winner Virginia Spotts for "St. Louis." Both Phillips and Meehan are online master's in English and creative writing students at SNHU, and Spotts is an online bachelor's in creative writing and English student.
Questions pertaining to the fall fiction competition may be emailed to penmenreview@snhu.edu
