Robert Benchley Society "Humor Writing Competition"

PS: OK, it's backwards. Who starts communicating with a "post script?" I found this Robert Benchley Society page on a rabbit trail when looking at/for contests. I don't know if I should bill the organization for advertising, or hope I don't find myself cited for plaguerism for copying it without premission. But I couldn't resist, especially since PPW is not sponsering an adult contest this year. What really pulled me in was the word "Benchleyesque," and the contest due date: April 1. But this is not an April Fools joke. And it's worth the read, just to discover a set of rules Texas mavericks can enjoy.  

ROBERT BENCHLEY SOCIETY 2012 HUMOR WRITING COMPETITION OFFICIAL RULES AND DEADLINES Entries may be submitted by e-mail, on or before APRIL 1, 2012 and MUST FOLLOW THE ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION PROCEDURE as below in item 3. 1. Entry Requirement Entries must be: Original; Benchleyesque (in the sense of reflecting the Benchley style and humor); Not more than 500 words in length (times height times width); In the English language, such as it is these days; Accompanied by the $10 entry fee. Entries are limited to one per person. Submission of an entry to the competition grants the Robert Benchley Society permission to publish the entry on the Society's website and online newsletter. All other rights are retained by the author. 2. Judging Rules All judging will be done in accordance with WBC rules: There is no standing 8 count and no 3 knockdown rule; Fighter can be saved by the bell in the last round only; A 10 point must system is in effect; Accidental head butt goes to the scorecard after the fourth round. None of the above; Officers and family members of officers of the National RBS, and judges are excluded; The top four finalist entries will be ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th by ARTE JOHNSON. Winners will be announced in JUNE, 2012, by the Robert Benchley Society. 3. Required Electronic Submission Procedure Entries must be accompanied by $10 entry fee, payable through PayPal, which funds will be used by the Society exclusively to cover the costs associated with the competition, to buy the plaque(s) and other insignificant prizes for the winner(s) and, so far as possible, pay for the cost of the first-place winner attending the Annual Gathering and Award Ceremony. Entries must be in MS Word or HTML format attached to an e-mail message with no identifying information (such as name, address, etc.) in the entry. The entrant's name, address, and phone number must be in the body of the e-mail message. To enter click on the PayPal Buy Now button below. After making your payment you will be automatically redirected to a page from which you may submit your entry. If not automatically redirected, click on "Return to Merchant" button.

RETURN TO ROBERT BENCHLEY SOCIETY

A Contest for Young Writers -- by Janet Cooper Taylor

What's more fun than a writing contest? A youth writing contest!
That's right. Panhandle Professional Writers' (PPW) 2012 Youth Writing Contest is now underway. All students in grades 3 through 12, sharpen your pencils and let the words flow, or turn on your computer and start tapping those keys. How many awesome short stories, poems, or memoirs can your mind conjure up? Submit as many entries as you'd like. The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2012, and it doesn't cost a dime.

We'd love to see a great showing from all of the school districts in the Texas panhandle, parts of New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Published authors will judge the entries. Awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category and grade level group will be presented on July 21. As that date nears, times and place details will be available on PPW's website.

Are you the next Sylvia Plath, Rudyard Kipling, Edgar Allan Poe, John Steinbeck, Virginia Woolf, F. Scott Fitzgerald? Even if you aren't writing is a great way to express yourself. it's a talent that will serve you well throughout your life. Writing contests are great ways to hone your writing skills, get constructive criticism, and let your creative side shine. It's great entertainment, cheap fun, and your book may be made into a movie some day. And, to think it all happened because you entered the Panhandle Professional Writers' 2012 Youth Writing Contest!

For details about the contest, you can download the brochure containing the rules and the entry form by going to the Youth Writing Contest page on PPW's website www.panhandleprowriters.org.

(c), 2012 Janet Cooper Taylor