Six-Word Mystery Contest Rules 2018
WHO CAN SUBMIT:
Anyone 18 years or older.
WHAT TO SUBMIT:
All submissions must be in English.
Use only the keys on a standard, computer keyboard (upper/lower-case letters, numbers, punctuation, basic symbols). Emojis, special symbols and other images are not allowed.
Use only grammatically plausible hyphenation; do not create compound words/phrases that would not normally be hyphenated (e.g., never-before-seen-assailant or gold-plated-butcher-knife).
Use the “word count” feature on Word to determine the number of words, which must be exactly six.
WHEN TO SUBMIT:
Entries open October 1, 2018. All entries must be received by midnight, October 31, 2018.
HOW TO SUBMIT:
The entry fee is $6 to enter a mystery in one category or $10 to enter all five categories: Hard-boiled, Cozy, Thriller, Police Procedural, or a mystery with Romance & Lust.
Be sure to place your category listing beside each entry on the entry form. Any entry that is submitted without a category listing will be assigned a category by contest officials.
Only five entries are allowed per $10 fee. If a writer wants to submit more than five entries, he/she must submit via the website and pay the additional fee of either $6 or $10 as noted above.
CONDITION OF SUBMISSION:
The writer retains copyright of the work but gives RMMWA permission to publish the story on the Association’s website and newsletter.
JUDGING SUBMISSIONS:
The winners (overall and in each category) will be decided in a two-step process.
- A panel of well-published and highly respected judges will select the top 5 stories in each category.
- The top stories in each category will be put on a ballot and the winner decided by voting by those attending the RMMWA Mystery & Mistletoe holiday party on December 13 in Denver, Colorado.
PRIZES
The overall winner will receive $100.
Winners in each of the five mystery categories will receive $25 gift cards to the Tattered Cover Bookstore.
Use the Paypal link to the right to pay for your entry. Once you’ve paid, Paypal will redirect you to our entry form.