Essay Contest

Tiny Lights Essay Contest

Essay Contest Guidelines
14th Annual Contest Deadline: February 16, 2009

Tiny Lights invites entries that feature a distinctive voice, discernable conflict and an eventual shift in the narrator’s perspective. We are looking for writers who weave the struggle to understand into the fabric of their essays.This year, we are introducing a special prize of $300 for short essays (no more than 1,000 words).We can only consider unpublished work, or previously published material for which the author holds rights. Rights revert to author after publication in Tiny Lights.

Each essay must be accompanied by an entry fee. $15 for first essay, $10 each additional essay. Make checks payable to:

Tiny Lights Publications. Mail to: P.O. Box 928, Petaluma, CA 94953.

SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) with sufficient postage required for contest notification and/or manuscript return. Multiple submissions OK.

Essays may be submitted in one of two categories:

STANDARD (no longer than 2,000 words) or

FLASH (no more than 1,000 words)

Please indicate preferred category on ms.

Entries should be typed and double-spaced.

Cover letters are optional, but the first page of the manuscript should include author’s name, complete address, e-mail, phone number, and essay word count.

Personal essay requires writers to communicate the truth of their experiences to the best of their abilities. While no theme restrictions apply to this contest, we will not consider essays that celebrate brutalitiy or the explicitly pornographic. Tiny Lights does not accept poetry, short stories, or material written for children. Entry fees for inappropriate submissions may not be returned.

Entries must be postmarked by Feburary 16, 2009.

Prizes will be awarded as follows:

First Place: $400

Second Place: $300

Third Place: $200

Two Honorable Mention Prizes: $100.

Three FLASH prize of $100 also offered. Awards will be determined by a panel of judges. Final authority rests with the Editor-in-Chief, Susan Bono.

Winners will be posted at

www.tiny-lights.com by April 10th, 2009

Winning essays may be edited before publication. Final copy must be approved by writer. No essays published without author’s permission.

All contestants will receive Tiny Lights’ contest publication featuring the winning entries.