| Wicked Karnival will now be offered in pdf and PRINT formats! The CARNIVAL OF WICKED WRITERS presents: The KILLER KRITIQUE Short Story Contest How many times have you submitted one of your best stories only to receive an uninformative, trite form rejection? Or better yet, how about those short, personalized, but infinitely enigmatic comments that serve only to create confusion in the author’s already muddled head. Well, we at WICKED KARNIVAL think we have a solution. Announcing the Killer Kritique Short Story Contest! Here’s how it works. 1. Each reading period, interested authors will post their story on a special, password protected critique forum. This forum will NOT be open to the public and only submitting authors will be given the password. 2. WK editors will review the pieces and offer solid, unbiased, and hopefully, informative critiques. Some of the feedback you receive will not be favorable. If you’re the sensitive type who can’t bear constructive criticism, don’t bother to enter this contest. 3. At the end of each reading period, the WICKED KARNIVAL editors will rattle their collective heads together and choose one winner from the pool. 4. This lucky winner not only will have his or her story featured in the next issue of WICKED KARNIVAL, but will also win $30 5. Losers? Why, there are no losers here! Those writers whose work does not win the coveted cash prize will still have a valuable critique. How many times have you gotten a thoughtful critique for a rejection? Never… Runners-up will also have their stories considered for inclusion in the webzine. So sharpen those pencils, turn on those computers, and get writing! CONTEST SUBMISSION GUIDELINES 1. Stories should be horror/dark fiction, 2,000 words or less, and should be related to theme for the current issue. 2. Post only 1 entry per submission period. No multiple submissions (Writers may still post other stories for critiques only) 3. Your story must be previously unpublished--No reprints and no simultaneous submissions. 4. Only post entries during the reading periods. Stories posted or e-mailed between reading periods will be deleted unread. 5. One winner will be selected per issue. The author will be paid $30 on publication and his or her story will be feature in the newest issue of WICKED KARNIVAL. 6. Wicked Karnival reserves first time electronic rights as well as the right to archive stories for 1 year after publication. 7. Our editors reserve the right to delete any entry not adhering to the rules. 8. HOW TO SUBMIT TO CONTEST PLEASE CAREFULLY EDIT YOUR MANUSCRIPT! We are not an editing service. Entries with excessive spelling and grammatical errors WILL BE DELETED. There are two ways to submit. The first--post your story directly on the CARNIVAL OF WICKED WRITERS board. Just PM Tomoran or Freezenerve for the KILLER KRITIQUE password and follow the directions to post your own tale. To submit via E-mail, follow the instructions below: All submissions should be in Manuscript Format. · One-inch margins · Courier New font · Double-spaced · Title and by-line centered in middle of first page · Contact information in the upper left hand corner · Word count in the upper right. On your submission, please include: · Name · Address · E-mail address · Your story’s word count. Send your manuscript as a Doc or Rtf attachment to wickedKarnival@yahoo.com In the subject line of your email, please put: Contest Submission:"The Title of your piece" If you would like to write a short cover letter in the body of the e-mail, feel free. REGULAR SUBMISSIONS ATTENTION: REGULAR SUBMISSIONS NO LONGER HAVE TO BE THEMED Next issue, non-contest submission will be no longer need to be themed. Beginning June 1st, Wicked Karnival will be looking for horror submissions between 500 and 4,000 words. Monsters, ghosts, serial killers, killer babies—the subject doesn’t matter as long as it’s good. Some of you may want only to submit to WICKED KARINIVAL without entering the contest. That’s cool. We now pay $5 per accepted story or 1 free copy of the issue you appear in.. Once again, please make certain that your submission has been edited before you send it to us. While a typo or two is excusable, copious spelling and grammar mistakes are a sure way to get your sub deleted. We currently accept only email submissions. To be certain that your story is read, follow the instructions below. · All submissions should be in Manuscript Format (Include your name, email, and word count) and should follow the current theme · Stories should be sent during reading periods only · Attach your story to your email as a doc or rtf file · In the subject like of your email, put Submission: “Name of Your Story”<br>· Provide a BRIEF cover letter in the body of your email. · Send it off to WickedKarnival@yahoo.com The editorial staff at WICKED CARNIVAL endeavors to respond as promptly as possible. However some decisions may take us right up to the deadline. That means return times could run as long as 2 months. THE WICKED CARNIVAL IS NOW CLOSED TO SUBMISSIONS! The new reading period will open on March 1st, 2005. The new theme is: TWISTED FAIRY TAILS That’s right, put the grim back into those ageless childhood stories as you reinterpret a familiar tale, or boldly invent a new classic. We’ll be looking for those stories that are able to frighten us as adults in the way good fairy tales frightened us as children. Remember, the key word is horror, folks—we don’t want fantasy. The deadline is August 1st, 2005 |