So champ...show us whatcha got!

 If you think that you have what it takes to be the next world heavy-weight champion writer on the block -- then HIT US WITH YOUR BEST SHOT!

We want to see what you can dish out in between those piles of laundry, leftover spaghetti and that late night creative spell where you just have to write down that one inspiring idea. So here's your chance to write it down in 300 to 500 words and see if it pays off. The Malice in Memphis "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" Writing Contest runs from March 1 until May 1. Entry fee is $10 per submission. That's right...per submission. So that means you can do the one-two sucker punch, hit us with all you've got (meaning you can submit as many entries as you like) and cross your fingers that you come out a winner. So enter as many times as you want.

Finalists will be notified on or before June 15. Winners are announced on the Malice in Memphis website, the Malice in Memphis Facebook page and the Dark Oak Press website.

The Prize:
  • First Place: a cash prize of $100, an award certificate, publication on the Malice in Memphis website, and 1 year’s paid membership in Malice in Memphis with the ability to submit a short story for possible publication in a future Malice in Memphis anthology. 
  • Second Place: a cash prize of $50, an award certificate, and the entry’s publication on the Malice in Memphis website. 
  • Third Place:  a cash prize of $25, an award certificate, and publication on the Malice in Memphis website.
  • There will also be 2 Honorable Mentions.The winners will receive an award certificate and the submission’s publication on the Malice in Memphis website.

Expert Coaches:
Throughout the contest period, you can find tips and advice on writing compelling openings on the Malice in Memphis blog, so you'll know exactly what our judges will be looking for.
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Click on the tabs below to step into the ring and come out swinging!
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We understand. Getting in the ring and duking it out is scary. No worries. That's why we have coaches ready to help you and answer all your questions. Just submit your query in the field below and one of our championship coaches will respond and whip you into fighting shape.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Check to see if your question is answered below. If not, feel free to contact us.
  1.  Why do we charge an entry fee? Two reasons: first to offset the costs involved in running a competition e.g., printing, marketing, providing a prize. But we also want to provide an incentive to writers to provide only their best work.
  2. Do you accept non-fiction entries? No. Only genre fiction is accepted.
  3. Will you accept my story if it has been published on my website? No. Electronic publishing is the same as print publishing and makes your story ineligible for the Award.
  4. If I submit more than one story, can I win more than one prize? Yes
  5. Can I submit a poem? No
  6. Can I submit an illustrated story? No
  7. What criteria is used for judging? Paragraphs are scored based on six (6) criteria; points adding up to a maximum score of 100. Opening Hook (20pts), Triggering Incident (15 pts), Compelling Voice (20pts), Show VS Tell (20pts), Dialogue (25pts). In the event of a tie, first round judges are also asked to rate on a scale of 1-10 their overall, subjective, impression of the submission.
  8. Do you provide feedback on my story? No, not at this time. This may be a possibility during future contests
  9. Who owns the copyright? Can I publish my story elsewhere? You own the copyright of your story. You can do anything you like with it after the competition is over.
  10. Can I submit my stories late? I have a really good excuse. No, that would be unfair to the other writers.
  11. What if my submission is more than 500 words? Can I still submit it? You can submit but it will likely be disqualified and unread. We have a strict word count policy of minimally 300 words, max 500.
  12. How do I know if you’ve received my submission? When the online form is completed and payment has been received, you will receive an email acknowledgement, thanking you for your submission. If you do not receive this email within 72 hours of sending, please contact us right away.
  13. How do I know what the judges are looking for? See item #7. You can also check out our blog series on writing compelling openings to see what the judges will be looking for.
  14. Can I withdraw or replace my story? You can certainly withdraw your story at any stage, however, no refunds are payable as the administrative time has already been put into registering your story and contacting judges. You cannot replace your story after the closing date of the contest (May 1, 2018). You may however, submit an amended story during the open submission period, however, you will need to pay another registration fee. 
No one gets in the ring without knowing what to expect. Whether you are a light weight or heavy weight writer, following the rules makes sure everyone is ready for a knock out.
 I: Submissions (March 1, 2018 – May 1, 2018)
a.       Who can submit?
a.       Anyone 18 years and older can enter. Published and non-published writers are eligible to enter, including current Malice members.
b.      With the following exceptions: Malice board members and officers, contest coordinator, committee members, and first round judges.
b.      Winners will be notified by email. Return of the prize notification or other documentation as undeliverable will result in disqualification and an alternate winner will be selected.
c.       Winner may be required to complete a publicity release, which must be returned within the time period specified in the notification letter or an alternate winner may be selected.
d.      Submissions will be deleted once the contest has ended.
e.      The email addresses for all entries will be maintained in a database and used for advertising of future contests. The addresses will not be shared with outside parties. Authors can choose to opt-out of this email list.
II: How to Submit
a.       Authors will complete the cover letter template found on the Malice in Memphis website, and paste their submission directly onto the form. Submissions will be received from the website only. Please do NOT email or send attachments as they will be deleted unread.
b.      Once the entry template has been completed, e.g., author info, submission and payment received via PayPal, you will receive an entry confirmation email.
c.       Multiple submissions are welcome. The author will complete a separate cover letter template and payment for each additional submission.
d.      The entry fee for this competition is $10 per entry. Fees are used to cover the cost of the contest. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Memphis Literacy Foundation.
e.      Submissions cannot be previously published and must be the author’s original work. The copyright to the entry is always retained by the author.
f.        Once the entry has been received and registered, no refund of entry fees will be made. No changes can be made to the submitted story unless a new registration fee is paid.

III: Story eligibility
To be considered for the 2018 HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT WRITING COMPETITION Award, the following criteria should be met:
a.       Word count between 300 and 500
b.      All fiction genres are invited
c.       Originating from any country or location
d.      Published in English
IV: Format and address
a.       Times New Roman, 12 point, double-spaced
b.      Submitted within the body of the cover letter template
 
V: Procedure
a.       The coordinator posts updates of the stories received throughout the submission period.
b.      All submissions must be in by May 1, 2018 11:59 CST
c.       Please direct any questions or issues to Angelyn Sherrod at [email protected] Confirmation of receipt for completed entries (author demographics, submission and payment) will occur within 48 hours of receipt.
d.      All identifying author information will be removed from submitted manuscripts prior to forwarding to the judges.
IV. Judging
a.       First round judging:  Each entry will be judged independently by four judges who are current active members of Malice in Memphis; the lowest score will be dropped to eliminate discrepancy judging. Judging is an anonymous, blind judging process.
b.      Final Round judging of the top 5 entries will be completed by the publisher Dark Oak Press and Media. All decisions are final.
c.       Scoring guidelines: the final score is based on the following elements
1.       Opening Hook
2.       Triggering Incident
3.       Voice
4.       Showing vs Telling
5.       Dialogue
d. An example of the score sheet can be found on the Malice in Memphis website
V. Announcement of Finalists and Winners:
a. Under normal circumstances, Finalists will be notified on or before June 15.  Winners are announced on the Malice in Memphis website, the Malice in Memphis Facebook page and the Dark Oak Press website.
b. The First-Place entry will receive a cash prize of $100, an award certificate, publication on the Malice in Memphis website, and 1 year’s paid membership in Malice in Memphis with the ability to submit a short story for possible publication in a future Malice in Memphis anthology.
c. The Second-Place entry will receive a cash prize of $50 , an award certificate, and the entry’s publication on the Malice in Memphis website.
d. The Third-Place entry will receive a cash prize of $25, an award certificate, and publication on the Malice in Memphis website.
e. Two Honorable Mention prizes will be awarded. The winners will receive an award certificate and the submission’s publication on the Malice in Memphis website.
​First round judging by Malice in Memphis members.
We are honored to have Allan Gilbreath, celebrated author and producer, as well as founder and managing editor of Dark Oak Press and Media, as final judge.
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Judging Sheet