How much does it cost to enter?
Entry is free, and always will be free.
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Is there a theme?
Yes, a new theme will be announced on the 1st of each month. You can interpret the theme however you like.
Do I retain the rights for my short story?
Yes
Is there a word limit?
We ask for a minimum of 400 words and a maximum of 1500 words.
Is there a deadline?
Yes, call for entries will close on the 28th of each month.
How long is the finalist poll open for?
Once the finalists are listed, the poll to choose the winner for the month will be open for one week.
Who can enter?
Anyone over the age of 16 can enter.
How do I submit my entry?
Please email your short story as a word document attachment to writersnotebook.sandra@gmail.com making sure you have read How to Submit your Short Story and copied our terms and conditions into the body of your email.
Please ensure you include your contact email address as, if you win and are included in the Anthology, we will need to contact you and request your Paypal details in order for you to receive your monthly share of sales.
Can I enter more than one piece of work each month?
Yes, you can enter a maximum of two short stories a month – but if successful, only one will make it through to the finalist poll.
Can I submit work previously published elsewhere?
No
Can I submit non-fiction, poems or plays?
Sorry not at the moment
Why do you need my email address and Paypal address?
If you are voted a monthly winner in the finalist poll, your short story will be published in the Writer’s Notebook Anthology which will be published at the end of the year. All those who appear in the Anthology will receive a percentage of its sales revenue each month. The total profit will be divided into thirteen, meaning the twelve winning authors and The Writer’s Notebook will receive equal shares.
We will need your Paypal email address to make any payment you are owed, and your preferred email address to send a copy of the sale’s report.
We will not keep a record of your email or Paypal information unless your work makes it into the Anthology.
What happens if there are less than 3 entries on a particular month?
If for some chance we receive less than 3 entries in a particular month, we will reserve the right to postpone the deadline by 5 days, if no more entries are received in that time, that particular month will be written off and we will begin a new theme. If this happens, publication of the Anthology will be delayed by one month to ensure we have a total of twelve stories.
If my short story is a finalist can I publish it elsewhere?
No, as it will be posted on The Writer’s Notebook blog in order for our readers to vote for it and many other publishers will consider it ‘published’. Furthermore, if your short story wins it will be published in our Anthology as a prize. Many publishers will not accept your short story if it has already been/is intended to be published elsewhere. However, if your short story makes it to the finalist polls, but doesn’t win – and another publisher is willing to accept it, we are happy for you to submit it to them.
What if my story doesn’t make it to the finalist poll, can I publish it elsewhere?
Yes, if your story hasn’t reached the finalist poll you are free to submit it in other competitions or have it published.
Must my story be in English?
Yes
Will I receive feedback?
The Writer’s Notebook cannot give individual feedback to all entries; however the three finalists will have the opportunity to receive feedback from the group at large, as their short stories will be posted in full to enable reader voting and a comments box will be posted below their entry. Please note the comments boxes will be monitored and any posts that are deemed inappropriate will be removed and trolls will be asked to leave the group.
Any questions not answered here? Please email us any queries and we will respond within 24 hours. writersnotebook.sandra@gmail.com
