This page is a repository for frequently asked questions about the short story competition. To submit a question that isn't already answered below, please email us at shortstory@phc.edu or leave a comment.
For the complete rules, guidelines, and submission instructions, please visit the contest homepage.
Q: Do the entry fee and story need to be postmarked by February 1 or to have arrived by February 1?
A: The story submission and the entry fee both need to be postmarked by February 1. Alternatively, if you are submitting your story and fee online, it must be submitted by 11:59p.m. on February 1.
Q: Is the competition open to home-schoolers and/or public-schoolers?
A: Educational background makes no difference; all are welcome to enter as long as they meet the age requirements and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Q: How will the winners be announced? Will I receive feedback on my story even if I don't win?
A: Winners will be notified by e-mail, tentatively by April 2012. Full contest results will also be posted on the contest website.
Unfortunately, we receive such a high volume of entries that we are unable to give feedback to individual writers. If you don't win, we encourage you to check out the winning entries once they are posted on the site and consider entering next year.
Q: To whom should I make out the check for the entry fee?
A: Please make the check out to "Patrick Henry College" and place "Call to Pens 2011" in the memo line.
Q: Which division do I write for if I'm 15 now but will be 16 before the submission deadline?
A: Technically, you can choose to submit a story to either category. If you finish and submit the story before your birthday, it would belong to the first division. If you finish and submit it after your birthday, you would belong in the second division. So, it's up to you!
Q: I won't be 16 before February 1, but can I still submit a story to the older division?
A: Unfortunately, in the past, we have had to stick firmly to the eligibility requirements for each category. If you're not 16 by Feb. 1, you will need to submit a story specific to your age group. But I would encourage you to think creatively about the theme. Some stories have more than one theme; for example, an unexpected adventure could end in redemption for one of your characters.
Q: Is the word limit the minimum or the maximum number of words allowed for a short story?
A: The word limits indicate the maximum number of words that an entry should have. If you are able to create a well-developed story under that limit, that's great-- remember, good writing is concise. Make every word tell!
Q: To whom should I make out the check for the entry fee?
A: Please make the check out to "Patrick Henry College" and place "Call to Pens 2011" in the memo line.
Q: Which division do I write for if I'm 15 now but will be 16 before the submission deadline?
A: Technically, you can choose to submit a story to either category. If you finish and submit the story before your birthday, it would belong to the first division. If you finish and submit it after your birthday, you would belong in the second division. So, it's up to you!
Q: I won't be 16 before February 1, but can I still submit a story to the older division?
A: Unfortunately, in the past, we have had to stick firmly to the eligibility requirements for each category. If you're not 16 by Feb. 1, you will need to submit a story specific to your age group. But I would encourage you to think creatively about the theme. Some stories have more than one theme; for example, an unexpected adventure could end in redemption for one of your characters.
Q: Is the word limit the minimum or the maximum number of words allowed for a short story?
A: The word limits indicate the maximum number of words that an entry should have. If you are able to create a well-developed story under that limit, that's great-- remember, good writing is concise. Make every word tell!
Hello. :)
ReplyDeleteI have a question. The rules state that each individual competitor must do their own revising and editing. However, would it be acceptable for a friend to make general verbal comments? (for instance: "the story is too slow.")
Thank you!
Hi Esther Grace,
DeleteThanks for your question! It would be acceptable for a friend to make general comments, as long as you do all the rewriting yourself. You can also have someone (parent, teacher) check the story for proper grammar and spelling. However, all the writing must be your own work-- so while they can point out weak areas, they can't rewrite it for you. Does that help?
-Alicia Constant
2011 Call to Pens Coordinator
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI had a question regarding the word count limits... Are those minimum or maximum?
Thanks!
Hi Raechel, the word limit is the maximum amount of words allowed. Thanks for your question!
Delete-Alicia
Regarding the age categories and themes ... My daughter is 14, but has written a number of stories with the theme of redemption. She's keen to submit one of them to the contest, but she's not in the 16-18 age category. May she submit one anyhow, even though the competitors would all be older or must she stay in her age category?
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Hi Michele,
DeleteThank you for your question! Unfortunately, in the past, we have had to stick firmly to the eligibility requirements for each category. If your daughter is not 16 by Feb. 1, she will need to submit a story specific for her age group.
However, before writing another story, I'd encourage her to see if the theme for the 12-15 age division, "An Unexpected Adventure," could apply to one of her current stories. Some stories have multiple themes. She may find a theme in her story that she didn't see before.
Blessings,
Alicia
I plan on entering at least one submission in the older division on the theme of redemption. Is it acceptable to submit an excerpt of a longer story, if the excerpt can stand alone and follows the plot arc of a typical short story?
ReplyDeleteHi Hannah, you are more than welcome to enter an excerpt of a longer story-- just remember that it will be judged on its own merits, and not as part of the larger story.
DeleteThanks for the question!
-Alicia
Can I e-mail you my story and send a check by mail? How will you know my check and story go together? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Finnessa,
DeleteYou certainly can email the story and mail the check. When you send us the check, print, fill out and mail an entry form (http://www.phc.edu/UserFiles/File/_Outreach-Giving/Outreach/2011_ShortStory_CompetitionForm.pdf) that notes you've sent us an email with your story. And, do give us your full name and let us know you're sending the check via mail when you email us! We'll hold your emailed story until we receive your fee in the mail.
Thanks,
Alicia
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI had two questions. Would I write 2011 or 2012 in the memo line on the check?
The other is do I need to type my story in a certain font, size, or spacing?
Thanks,
~Tamika~
Hi Tamika,
DeleteGood questions! It doesn't really matter which year you put in the memo line (This is the 2011-12 contest, so you could just put that. As long as we know it's for Call to Pens, and it's made out to Patrick Henry College, you're good to go.)
As far as the font size and spacing, pick a readable standard font (i.e. 12 pt. Times New Roman or Arial). Whether you double or single-space is up to you, but double spacing is often more readable.
Thanks!
-Alicia
Hi,
ReplyDeleteIs it acceptable if my short story has a poem in it?
Thanks!
Alathea
Hi Alathea,
DeleteThat shouldn't be a problem, as long as the poem is essential to the story. But remember, it still counts toward your word count!
Thanks for your question!
-Alicia
Hi Alicia,
ReplyDeleteHow do I pay online?
Thanks,
Emily
Hi Emily,
DeleteGo to the following link: http://www.phc.edu/calltopens_onlinereg.php
Once you enter the information and upload your story, it will redirect you to a place where you can pay securely.
Blessings,
Alicia
What does "double-space" mean exactly? Are you supposed to double space after each sentence or each line is double spaced?
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Hello Finnessa,
ReplyDeleteThat is a good question to ask. It means that each line should be double-spaced. In the word program you use there will be a place to set the paragraph spacing this way.
Blessings on your writing!
Hannah