[CW-Grad] The 2011 Collagist Chapbook Contest

[Robin Russin]

The Collagist is pleased to announce its 2011 Chapbook Contest, now open for entries. The contest will select a single winner for publication in late 2011, as well as two honorable mentions.

Entries will be accepted in all genres, including short stories, flash fiction, novellas, poetry, and non-fiction. Manuscripts for all genres should be between 35 and 80 pages in length.

Prizes

One Winner: Publication by Dzanc Books, plus $250 and 25 author copies

Two Honorable Mentions: Possible publication by Dzanc Books

Entry Fees

Two options are available:

$15: Includes contest entry fee only

$20: Includes contest entry fee plus a copy of the winning chapbook (only available to U.S. entrants)

All fees will be used to support and promote Dzanc Books' non-profit ventures. As a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, Dzanc Books publishes excellent books of literary fiction through both open submissions and the Dzanc Prize, as well its imprints. Dzanc is also fully committed to developing educational programs in the schools through its Writers In Residence programs, as well as other charitable activities.

Judging

The contest will be judged by Collagist editor Matt Bell and other Collagist staff members. Entries will be read blind to ensure that it is only the quality of the work that is considered.

Matt Bell is the author of How They Were Found, published by Keyhole Press in October 2010, as well as three chapbooks, Wolf Parts (Keyhole Press), The Collectors (Caketrain Press), and How the Broken Lead the Blind (Willows Wept Press). His fiction has appeared in Conjunctions, Hayden's Ferry Review, Willow Springs, Unsaid, and American Short Fiction, and has been selected for inclusion in anthologies such as Best American Mystery Stories 2010 and Best American Fantasy 2. His book reviews and critical essays have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, American Book Review, and The Quarterly Conversation. He is also the editor of Dzanc's Best of the Web anthology series.

Eligibility and Contest Rules

Manuscripts for all genres should be between 35-80 pages in length. The deadline for entry is midnight, April 15, 2011.

Previously-published excerpts or individual pieces are acceptable as part of your entry, but the manuscript as a whole must be unpublished.

Simultaneous submissions are of course acceptable, but entries should be withdrawn immediately if accepted elsewhere.

Once submitted, manuscripts may not be revised during the reading fee without a complete withdrawal and  the payment of a new entry fee.

You may enter the contest as many times as you like, but each entry will require its own separate entry fee.

Relatives, close friends, and former students of Matt Bell should not enter this contest, and will not be eligible to win in the case of their entry. If such a winner is selected, the manuscript will be disqualified at our discretion, and no refund of entry fees will be granted. Previous contributors to The Collagist are eligible to enter, as all manuscripts will be read blind.

To Enter

Prepare your manuscript as a single Word document or PDF, including a cover page with the title of your manuscript but no identifying information: Please ensure that your name, email address, and other contact information appears nowhere else in the document. (This information will be saved by our submission manager.)

When you're ready, upload your entry through our submission manager, using the appropriate link for either the $15 or $20 option. You will be asked to upload your submission, and also to pay your entry fee at that time.

Winners will be announced in the May 2011 issue of The Collagist.

Questions? Concerns?

Please email Matt Bell at editor at thecollagist.com.