SonShine Awards
Are you ready to be an award-winning author or writer?
Submit to our contest and you may hear your name called at our “Just Deserts” Desserts awards program Saturday night.
Please note that if an entry has been entered into a previous FCWC contest and won, it may not be entered again. However, if the piece did not win first place, it may be entered again, but the second time is the final opportunity for that piece to be entered.
Here are the categories and submission instructions for your UNPUBLISHED (self, hybrid, or traditional) and UNCONTRACTED (traditional only) works:
| Genre | Guidelines |
|---|---|
| Articles |
Submit a nonfiction article of no more than 1,000 words. |
| Bible Studies |
Submit an outline, plus first 1,000 words. |
| Children's Early Reader |
Submit a one paragraph summary, plus first 500 words, |
| Children's Picture or Board Book |
Submit the entire work, without graphics. PLEASE tell us if it’s a BOARD BOOK or PICTURE BOOK |
| Devotions |
Submit the Bible verse and short prayer/inspirational saying (not included as part of 300 word limit) PLUS up to three devotions that are up to 300 words each. The devotions do not need to be related in content. Email each devotion SEPARATELY, with its own cover sheet. Do not send one email with three devotions on it. |
| Flash Fiction | (A short story of no more than 1000 words.) Submit entire piece. |
| Middle Grade Books |
Fiction or Nonfiction: Submit a one paragraph summary, plus first 1,000 words. |
| Nonfiction Books (6 cats.) |
Submit a one paragraph summary, plus first 1,500 words. |
| Novels (6 cats.) |
Submit a one paragraph summary, plus first 1,500 words. |
| Poetry |
Submit up to 3 poems, single spaced. No more than 1 page per poem. Email each poem SEPARATELY, with its own cover sheet. Do not send one email with three poems on it. |
| Short Story |
(A work of fiction of no more than 7,500) Submit a one paragraph summary, plus first 1,500 words |
| YA Fiction |
Submit a one paragraph summary, plus first 1,500 words |
| YA Nonfiction |
Submit a one paragraph summary, plus first 1,500 words |
DEADLINE: September 30
RULES AND QUALIFICATIONS:
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No published work (self, hybrid, or traditional) may be entered.
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If your work is under contract by a traditional house it is not eligible to be entered. If your work is under contract with a self-publisher or hybrid publisher it is eligible.
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Pay your entry fee online at the conference registration page. This may be done at any time prior to the September 30 deadline.
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EMAIL your submission w/ two ATTACHMENTS to [email protected]. One is your cover sheet. The other is your contest entry. Submission and attachments must be Word documents—this is an industry standard.
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If you are sending more than one submission, please send as separate emails.
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Your cover sheet should include: Your name, email address, title of your work, and category entered. Please do not send us your bio, your inspiration for your book, or any other information.
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Other than your cover sheet, your name or any tell-tale author evidence SHOULD NOT be included within the submission.
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Each submission should be double-spaced, Times New Roman (black), font size 12, with 1" margins.
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You must be registered for the conference to enter. Even if you’re only coming one day, you may still enter. However, awards will NOT be mailed, so you either must be present or have a friend pick up your award for you should you win.
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If you self-published within a genre more than five years ago, you may enter that genre.
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If you are traditionally published or hybrid within a genre, you may not enter that genre regardless of copyright date.
You may enter multiple genres, AND/OR you may enter the same genre more than once. However, each category submission MUST BE emailed separately. -
Please edit your pieces carefully. Once you have sent in your submission, no substitutions or “swap outs” will be made. There are no exceptions to this rule, so please do not ask.
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In addition to receiving a certificate, all First Place winners will receive an additional $50.00 off the following year’s registration!
The judges reserve the right to switch the category for an entry, to cancel a category if the number of entries is insufficient,
or to decide not to have a winner if the level of the best entries is not up to publishing industry standards.
