Purpose:To create an anthology of best writings from current members of The Virginia Writers Club (VWC) to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
Categories:Fiction, nonfiction and poetry.
Eligibility:Any active member of The Virginia Writers Club. Active members are described as having paid their dues at the time of submission and publication. Previously published work is acceptable as long as the author owns the rights. Authors must be able to produce proof of release from original publisher.
Upon publication of the anthology, rights revert to authors.
Benefits:The anthology will be professionally published and available for sale through standard print and electronic distribution channels.
Contributors will each receive one complimentary copy. Additional copies will be available for purchase at VWC events.
All proceeds from sales will go to build the VWC scholarship fund. No contributing author and no editor will receive payment.
Submission Rules:Submissions may be on any subject the author or poet chooses in the categories of fiction, nonfiction and poetry.
1. Manuscripts must be the original work of the author.
2. Entrants may submit one only one entry per category for fiction and nonfiction. Up to three (3) poems may be submitted.
3. Fiction and nonfiction works shall be no long than 3,500 words. Excerpts of longer works will be considered. Poetry submissions shall be no longer than fifty (50) lines.
4. Submission formatting:
a. Include a cover sheet with the author’s name, address, telephone number, e-mail address (if applicable), category and title.
b. All other pages must have the author’s name, the name of the work and the page number in the header. Formats for the work and author’s name must be: TITLE/Author’s Name in the upper left-hand corner in the header. Page numbers must be in the header in the upper right-hand corner.
5. Prose manuscripts must be submitted in Times New Roman font, 12-pitch, with one-margins all around. Manuscripts must be double-spaced with a ragged right margin.
6. Poetry manuscripts must be submitted in Times New Roman font, 12-pitch with a one-inch margin at the top and left. Poems must be single spaced. Poems where the form of the poem (e.g., a poem about a tree is in the shape of a tree) is critical in its reading will be rejected because of difficulties in formatting for publication.
7. Submissions not in accord with the above format will be rejected. The author shall be given two weeks to correct the formatting and re-submit.
8. No handwritten submissions will be accepted.
9. Previously published material is acceptable as long as the author has reprinting rights. A statement for previously published works must be in this format: ‘[TITLE] originally published in [TITLE and volume, if applicable], DATE.
10. Only electronic submissions will be accepted.
Submissions should be sent to Betsy Ashton, executive editor at
betsy_ashton2005@yahoo.com.
Submissions may be sent in beginning August 6, 2016. All submissions must be received no later than November 30, 2016
Biography:Please submit a brief (75- to 100-word) biography with a photo. The bio should contain writing-related information, including genres in which the author writes or publishes, book titles, top magazine or journal credits, etc.
Additional Caveats:The editorial committee reserves the rights to reject submissions which are poorly written (i.e., containing typos and incorrect grammar) or which contain objectionable material (pornographic, overtly political or politically incorrect). Submission acceptance should follow this rule: “Do you want your grandchildren reading this collection?”
The editorial committee reserves the right to correct grammar and/or punctuation to meet the requirements of standard English, unless the work is written in dialect. If it is, the author should provide a note to that effect. Should style questions arise, THE CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE, Version 16 will serve as the final authority.
Works will be displayed by category and in alphabetical order by authors’ last names.
If authors mention living people (non-celebrities or non-public figures) in their essays, stories, poetry, etc., the author may want to provide a release from these people to use their names. The author assumes all liabilities for using real people’s and hold The Virginia Writers Club, the editorial staff and the Board of Governors harmless.
