OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES
(“Official Rules”)
1. All entrants must be 18 years of age or more and by their personal submission of the work, they consent to all terms herein. All entrants must be United States permanent residents or citizens residing in the United States. Entrants may not reside in Rhode Island and where submission to Contest is otherwise generally VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
2. Entries must consist of named contestant’s original unpublished short stories primarily in the English language and/or for an English-speaking reader. Translations of another author’s work and other derivative works will not be eligible. A portion of a larger work of fiction may be entered in Contest if it meets all other requirements and stands on its own as a cohesive short story.
3. Entrant warrants that their submission is “Unpublished.” Unpublished means that the story has not been published in any form, in a print magazine or other publication, book, or digital (including audio or website) where publication rights have been granted to a third party.
4. Entrant warrants that the submission is not currently being reviewed by publishing companies or other contest holders. Submission of the story in this Contest additionally constitutes an exclusive submission for publication of all verbatim rights related to the work itself in any medium (including but not limited to any print and digital forms).
5. Entries must not be less than 100 words or greater than __6000____
words. No purchase is necessary; however payment of $15 plus shipping and handling is required. To submit electronically, entries must be submitted by uploading Entrant’s document through the credit card payment system on the paypal website. Once you have paid and obtained a reference number you will be returned to the contest website where you can cut/paste entry in appropriate box.
6. Entries may also be mailed with self addressed stamped envelope (SASE) and an entry fee (check or money order) of $15 to Just Write Exceptional Fiction Contest; P.O. Box 2428, Country Club Hills, Illinois. 60478. Written submissions shall be on standard white 8.5” x 11” paper of ordinary weight and quality and should be stapled, clipped and/or numbered.
7. Regardless of how the work and / or payment is submitted the following must accompany each transmission or mailing: Entrant’s name, address, phone number and, if available, email. If we do not reach Entrant within 24 hours of an attempt, we may disqualify Entrant from the Contest. We reserve the right to allow a longer time in attempting to reach Contest finalists or winners. If any part of your entry is missing or incorrect, we reserve the right to disqualify an entrant. Entrant fees are nonrefundable.
8. Unlimited submissions per person is allowed during this Contest as long as the $15 entry fee is paid for each entry. We reserve the right to disqualify those who circumvent this rule in any way.
9. The closing date for all submissions is [Sunday, July 31th, 2009] at 11:59 P.M. central time. Deliveries may be made by U.S. Postal Mail, or shipping or courier service after the date as long as they are postmarked by Saturday July 28th 2007. Submissions may not be delivered in person. No email entries will be received after the date and time given, will be considered, unless the closing date is extended as provided in Rule 10. Such late entries will be discarded.
10. If in the opinion of the judges no entry deserving of the prize is received by the aforesaid date, the Publisher reserves the right to extend the Contest for _2_ months. If there is a tie, the lead judge will make a decision.
11. The decision of the judges shall be final and binding on all entrants.
12. The Publisher will pay the author of the winning story the sum of $1000.00. second-place author will receive: $600.00. The third -place author will receive: $300.00. All Contest winners and extension of time, if applicable, shall be announced on the Contest website (
www.jwbookstore.com) . Entrants who have no access to a computer may request a winner’s list by sending a self addressed stamped envelope to the address in Rule __ for receipt of the same.
13. The short story receiving the Just Write Exceptional Fiction Award will be published by the Publisher or a third party publication with no further compensation. Publisher shall reserve worldwide first publication rights in any language. All other related rights shall be shared fifty percent (50%) to Publisher and fifty percent (50%) to Author. The Publisher will extend a full publication contract pending payment of the Contest prize.
14. No manuscripts shall be returned by us. We assume no responsibility for manuscripts lost or damaged. Each contestant should retain an original copy of his or her manuscript.
15. All manuscripts must be accompanied by an entry form (electronic form or printed, hereto attached) with the blanks duly filled in.
16. VOID in Rhode Island and wherever contests of skill without particular registration are prohibited. We reserve the right to use the names, provided images, and biographical information of any Contest winner or runner-up for the purposes of marketing of the story or the website and businesses related to the Contest. See our privacy policy [link].
17. YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE SPONSORS HEREBY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO THE CONTEST, THE SPONSORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT OR INDIRECT DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR PARTICIPATION OR INABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST. We assume no responsibility for (1) any computer, on-line, telephone transmission or technical malfunctions that may occur during participation in the Contest, (2) theft, destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, your entry, our site or any of the materials needed for submission of your entry or operation of the Contest, (3) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by website, entrant or any third party, (4) any human error which may occur in the processing of or judging of submissions in the Contest, (5) any error, interruption, defect, or delay in operation or transmission, or (6) failures or technical malfunction of the Internet, or any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, computer equipment, software, email. The Sponsors are not responsible for any injury or damage to participants or to any computer related to or resulting from participating or downloading materials in this Contest. Some jurisdictions may not allow certain limitations of liability and so the certain foregoing limitations may not apply to you.
18. The use of automated devices (those which violate the Official Rules, tamper with the electronic entry system, delay or impede the use of the website, or otherwise) is strictly prohibited. We reserve the right to disqualify any person suspected of tampering with the electronic entry process. We may discontinue, cancel or reschedule the Contest, or otherwise disqualify any entry, for any reason and no reason, in our sole discretion. The Contest and these Official Rules are governed by the State of Illinois, excluding its conflicts of laws principles. By entering the Contest, you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in Chicago, Illinois, County of Cook. If any provision of these Official Rules is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be contrary to law, such provision shall be changed and interpreted so as to best accomplish the objectives of the original provision to the fullest extent allowed by law, provided that if no such interpretation is possible, the provision shall be stricken and the remaining provisions of these Official Rules shall remain in effect to the fullest extent allowable under applicable law. The headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not affect its interpretation. These Official Rules constitute the final, complete and exclusive understanding between the Sponsors and you with respect to your participation in the Contest, and supersedes any prior or contemporaneous representations, rules, or agreements, whether oral or written.
