While your first impression of writing contests is to imagine a bunch of bookish geeks behind their desks, Broken Pencil Magazine’s Indie Writers Deathmatch is proud to quash that stereotype.
In a one-two punch of creativity and competition, the Toronto magazine offers a handsome reward to the author whose story can come out on top of the literary heap.
Now in its 3rd year, the online battle pits authors against their peers in a grudge match that allows visitors to the Broken Pencil website to vote from the top 8 stories selected by the Broken Pencil staff.
Each week, two of the semi-finalists go head to head, with the winner of each round moving up the ranks until one writer is victorious. Said victor will have his or her story published in Broken Pencil's upcoming Fiction Issue, as well as $300 cash and a Broken Pencil prize pack.
2nd, 3rd and 4th will also be published in the Fiction section of Broken Pencil. Their authors will also receive the standard payment for publication in the magazine.
To submit your original unpublished piece of fiction of 1000-3000 words to the scrutiny of rabid fiction fans, be sure to get your entry in by December 31.
If you find writing to be more of a spectator sport, the Broken Pencil staff invite you to help them choose the winner by voting.
For more information and all the rules & regulations, visit Broken Pencil's Indie Writers Deathmatch page.
Have you ever voted on Broken Pencil’s Indie Writer Deathmatches? Would you have the bravery to submit one of your stories to such scrutiny? What type of story do you think will come out on top? Feel free to share your ideas in the comments section.
UPDATE: The deadline for submissions has been extended to January 8, 2010.
Do you have a tip on local writing events? Email your comments, questions or suggestions for future articles to torontowriting@gmail.com
Comments
I love that they put it into the hands of the readers, because in the end that is who really matters. All this big publishing executives think they know what the masses want, but if they would just listen to their readers, they would find that 90% of the time, they're dead wrong.
Ditto to Jenny's comment. This maps directly onto the feedback-now trend, onto direct market force, of the people/audience pushing back and affecting the outflow of what products and talent reach the arena...rather than some ego-maniacal know-it-all from "the industry" thinking they...know it all.
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