About
Have you ever dreamt of being published? The Writers' Studio is offering an exclusive opportunity for members and students to be showcased in our inaugural Annual Collection to be published in 2025. An editorial committee will select works from the following categories:
- Fiction Novel Excerpt with Synopsis (five winners will be chosen in this category)
- Memoir Excerpt with Synopsis (five winners)
- Nonfiction or Essay (five winners)
- Short Story (six winners)
- Poetry (15 winners)
Finalists will be selected based on a rubric (similar to that of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association). Noted authors, editors, literary agents, and other industry professionals will then choose the winners in each category. The submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. Jan. 31, 2025. Winners will be informed no later than March 20, 2025.
Details
- Read the entire registration page for instructions.
- Prizes: Along with publication in BARN’s first-ever Writer’s Studio Annual Collection, winners will receive a free author’s copy of the collection, have the option to be included in BARN public announcements and promotional materials, and will be invited to read their entries live at the book launch in June 2025.
- Submissions: This is a two-step process. After you register for the contest, you'll receive a confirmation email containing a link to a form. Ensure your piece follows all guidelines, then upload your story via the form. Do not reply to the confirmation email with your story attached or copy/pasted in the body of the email. Do not submit a cover letter.
- Specifications: Format is .pdf, .doc, or .docx files; 12-point Times New Roman font; normal/standard one-inch margins; and double-space the entire document. Written in English.
- Submission document: Submission should NOT have your name anywhere on the document/written work (to ensure anonymity, use this format for file name: YourSubmissionTitle_YourCategory. Example: TheWay_Poetry); include title, page number, and category in top right corner of each page.
Word Count Requirements
- Fiction Novel Excerpt: 3,000 - 5,000 words and 250-word synopsis*.
- Memoir Excerpt: 3,000 - 5,000 words and 250-word synopsis*.
- Non-fiction or Essay: Up to 3,000 words; include a 100-word blurb if an excerpt.
- Poetry: One page, avoid graphic poetry forms.
- Short story: Up to 3,000 words.
*All excerpts must be contiguous.
Additional Rules
- Only unpublished works will be considered. If your work is published elsewhere after you've submitted, let us know as soon as possible. Only one submission per person. Entries that don’t follow guidelines and instructions may be disqualified.
- We won't accept homophobic/racist/misogynistic/ableist or any kind of prejudiced writing; exploitative sexual content; over-the-top body horror just for the sake of it; graphic violence or abuse.
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We won't knowingly consider AI-generated writing
- Please be patient with the four-person volunteer team running this. It may take a few days to get back to you with answers and confirmations.
Rights
Submitters will retain all rights to the work. BARN will retain the non-exclusive rights to feature the work in BARN's original media (Instagram, newsletters, Circle, Facebook, etc.). Finalists will be asked to sign a standard publishing acknowledgement form prior to publication. This project is fund-raiser for BARN. All profit from books sold will go to BARN Writer's Studio. Submitters will not be paid per copy sold. BARN has no obligation to inform submitters who are not selected for the anthology.
Agreement
By submitting their work, all authors agree to the following:
BARN is not responsible for any problems with or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, online systems, servers and providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any email submission to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, human errors of any kind, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participants’ or any other persons’ computers related to or resulting from participation, uploading and downloading of any materials related to the contest. There are no geographical restrictions; submissions may be submitted by BARN members and students from anywhere. However,
this competition and any prizes awarded are void in countries, states or other jurisdictions where such contests are prohibited by law. By entering the contest, all entrants agree to release, discharge and hold harmless BARN and its partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising agencies, agents and their employees, officers, directors, representatives from any claims, losses, and damages arising out of their participation in the contest or any contest-related activities and the acceptance and use, misuse, or possession of any prize awarded. BARN reserves the right to vary the terms and conditions as may be deemed necessary or cancel the competition at any time for any reason. Due to our production timeline, entrants whose work is chosen will need to respond no later than April 7, 2025. If we do not receive a response from entrants, we will assume the prize is forfeit.
Prerequisites
You must be a BARN member or have paid for/attended a BARN class between September 2023 and Dec. 31, 2024. As a member and/or paid-class attendee, you already have an existing BARN account and will need to use your BARN account to register for the Annual Collection.
