Writing Contest FAQ's |
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How Do I Enter? Send entries as hard copy only — please don’t send e-mail attachments or any electronic media. Each entry should be sent to us in triplicate, with a cover letter stapled to the top of each copy, containing the author’s name, address, phone number and e-mail, the title of the entry, and the category entered, and, if it has been previously published, the information about where and when it appeared. Entries must be received between November 1 & December 31. Southern California Genealogical Society What Happens If I Miss the Deadline? Entries received after Dec. 31 will not be considered, with the exception of entries mailed from overseas. If an entry has been mailed from outside North America, and was postmarked prior to Dec. 1, and received by us no later than Jan. 15, we will get that entry to the judges. What Kind of Articles Do You Want? The contest is for factual articles: either family or local history, character sketches or memoirs. The entries should capture a sense of a family’s experience(s), or the character of a locality, or reveal an individual’s character and personality. The best articles will help illuminate the human drama—and will also illuminate the era, and/or the historical or social context of the subject. What Kind of Articles Do You NOT Want? Accounts of genealogical research procedures, “how-to articles,” advice, and/or general genealogical columns are not appropriate for this contest. Does My Article Have to Relate to California? Not at all. We welcome stories that concern any aspect of family or local history from anywhere and from any era. We believe that, as family historians, we’re all in this together! The contest is open to the public, and to both amateur and professional writers. There is no entry fee. You need not be a member of the Southern California Genealogical Society to enter. What Will the Judges Look for? Entries will be judged on four criteria: 1) Overall impact and interest, points: 0-15 The judges will evaluate the article’s depth and insight, and the writer’s ability to capture the subject. This category also reflects the judge’s subjective response to the story. 2) Accuracy & carefulness with facts, points: 0-10 Do all the factual statements appear to be accurate? Are all the sources used in the article cited correctly? Does the writer seem to be writing honestly and with candor, (i.e., neither exaggerating nor evading issues raised by the story)? 3) Language and “voice,” points: 0-10 This evaluates the originality (i.e., avoidance of cliches), freshness and effectiveness of the author’s use of language and the aptness of the author’s observations. The judges will also ask: Does the article flow smoothly? Are the details used appropriate and vivid? 4) Writing mechanics, points: 0-10 The judges will look at the clarity of the writing, grammar, syntax and well-organized thoughts. They will also look for clean self-editing (at a minimum, run your spell check!). 5) Bonus points In addition to the four criteria just described, judges may award the following extra points: First place: 5 points Second place: 4 points Third place: 3 points Honorable mention: 2 points Finalist: 1 point How Many Finalists and Honorable Mentions Will There Be? As many as the judges choose. There is no set number. I’d Love to Get Some Feedback From the Judges. Can You Send Me Their Comments? We’re sorry, but the judges do not write comments about any of the entries.. No, “scores” are just a bookkeeping device to help the judges keep track of the entries. How Do I Know if I’m Citing Sources Correctly? All research (or other) sources, including letters and diaries, must be supported by appropriate endnote citations. For a guide to citation style, see “Evidence, Citation & Analysis for the Family Historian,” by Elizabeth Shown Mills (Genealogical Publishing Co.), or visit “The Myrin Virtual Library,” Chicago Manual of Style Sample Citations, online at http://myrin.ursinus.edu/help/resrch_guides/cit_style_chicago.htm Should I Include Endnotes in the Word Count? No. Endnotes are “free.” Writers may submit one (1) entry in each category, for a total of three separate entries. However, each entry must be submitted in triplicate, and each one of the triplicate copies must have a copy of the cover letter stapled to it, as described in “How to Enter.” If writers send entries in more than one category, please send each category in a separate envelope. When Will the Winners Be Announced? Finalists, honorable mentions and prize-winners will be notified by e-mail about May 1. The entire list of winners will be posted as soon as possible after May 1 on the SCGS Website and published in the SCGS quarterly journal, “The Searcher.” Finalists, honorable mentions and prize winners will also be notified via Post Office mail after May 1. By entering this contest, you grant the Southern California Genealogical Society permission to print your entry 1) in its quarterly journal, and/or 2) in an anthology of the winners of this contest, and/or 3) on its Website. If you submit an article that has been published elsewhere, you need to indicate this on your cover letter and attach written permission from the previous publisher giving SCGS the right to reprint it if we choose to do so. Is It OK to Send an E-mail Permission From the Previous Publisher? We prefer to receive a letter granting permission on the publication’s letterhead, but an e-mail is acceptable. How Will I Know If You Publish My Story? We’ll notify you beforehand, and ask you at that time to send us an electronic version of your article. We’ll also tell you when it will appear—and, if it appears in print, we’ll mail you a free copy of the publication when and where it’s available. Let us know, and we’ll inform you of how and from whom to obtain them. Will All the Finalists, Honorable Mentions and Prize Winners Be Published? Probably not. Publication will depend on the space available, the format being used and editorial decisions about the balance of subject matter and treatment. Help! I have a question you didn’t answer. For more information, call (818) 843-7247 or e-mail SCGS at scgs@scgsgenealogy.com. You can also e-mail the contest coordinator directly at SCGSWritingContest@gmail.com. Good luck, everybody ! We’re looking forward to the biggest and best contest yet! |
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