THE 2020 Peter’s Prize for Short Story is open-themed.
That means no subject is off-limits.
You can write about your genitals warts for all I care.
You only need to write a good story.
And if you want to win, you need to convince the judges your genital warts deserve the prize.
So write your stories well.
Stylistically.
Grammatically correct.
Observe word limits.
Observe deadlines.
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The contest is open genre.
Meaning, any genre you choose.
I wish I can say, write in the most literary genre.
But that needs a lot of lecture and education.
And who is to say that horror is not a good literary genre?
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The contest prize is modest.
Due to economic difficulty, and obviously the coronavirus pandemic, we keep the cash prizes at P5,000 for first prize; P3,000 for second prize; P2,000 for third prize.
If no work is deserving of a prize (that should not really happen, but I guess it can), consolation prizes of P1,000 will be given to the top two or three entries.
But people should work for the coveted first prize medallion.
It’s a specially crafted medallion (made in the US, not China) with a bronze finish.
It’s really pretty.
Just ask the medalists.
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The contest is very easy.
There is no need for a notarized form to attest for authenticity, or originality of the materials.
Our jurors and first readers are pretty smart and wide readers.
They can spot what’s fake, and what’s plagiarized.
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Also, while the Foundation may ask the right to first publish the winners, everything can be negotiated.
It is my position that if Peter’s Prize cannot promote you as the Hiligaynon writer to watch, you can always promote yourself somewhere.
Your work is your work.
The copyright remains with you.
My deal for the winners: If you make it hard for the Foundation to advance your work, that’s on you.
We only want to celebrate our Peter’s Prize winners, and give them as much mileage as possible.
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To give newbies and wanna be writers a good fighting chance, fiction writing tips and talks are given online via Poets And Writers International – A Peter Solis Nery Online Resource Hub.
Visit it online.
The talks are fun to read, if you are into the craft of writing.
But it also advocates documenting the COVID-19 pandemic, and being creative during the lockdown.
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My fiction talks aren’t very regular.
I’m not apologizing for that because I have to meet deadlines for my textbooks, I have to deal with the pandemic, and I have to write my columns.
Of course, when things get too busy, or when I get lazy and unable to keep my column writing, I may just publish my fiction talks here in my column.
I do not waste what I write, ever, remember?
I mean, I really think they could also be good for your soul.
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If you missed it, check out Part 1 of this article from last Monday.
The contest will only accept online submissions.
The contest period starts May 1, and ends May 31, 2020.
The important email to use is: 500tinaga@gmail.com
But be careful to observe proper contest dates.
Your work can be disqualified if sent too early.
Story should be in Hiligaynon (at least 80%), with word count between 5,000 and 7,500 words.
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Awarding of prizes will be decided after the pandemic clears.
But we will have it.
We will survive this, and award the prizes.
That’s why we need to write, and to feel that we are still alive.
We must write to survive.
We must write to keep Hope alive. (500tinaga@gmail.com/PN)
