I just received a notice from Writer’s Digest, announcing six short story competitions in six different genres: http://tinyurl.com/3bdoueq.
In each genre, the first prize is $1000, plus $100 worth of Writer’s Digest books, and the 2012 Novel & Short Story Market. Second prize is $500, $100 worth of books and the Novel & Short Story Market. Honorable Mentions receive the Novel & Short Story Market. The three top entries in each genre will be published in “a Writer’s Digest outlet.”
Stories must be previously unpublished and not accepted by any other publication at the time of submission. WD retains “one time publication rights” for the “outlet” mentioned above, their website or magazine, I imagine, though they are not specific. Entries are $20 each, and the maximum length for all genres is 4000 words. The genre competitions have different deadlines:
Science Fiction/Fantasy – Sept. 15, 2011
Thriller – Sept. 15, 2011
Young Adult – Oct. 1, 2011
Romance – Oct. 15, 2011
Crime – Oct. 22, 2011
Horror – Oct. 31, 2011
Short story competitions pick up in the fall, so here is a chance to explore something off your beaten track. It was a dark and story night, y’all!
The First Gates 
Thanks for posting the contest info, Morgan! Will definitely look into trying to enter one of those.
Also, LOVE the adorable pic of you and Snoopy. 🙂
~Julie
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That particular Snoopy is from the gardens at the Charles Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, which I really enjoyed visiting. I posted a description of it last October.
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I’ll definitely have to give this a try in the Fantasy genre. I’m sure I can scrounge up $20 somehow and it’s worth a try. Thanks for posting about this! I may not have found out otherwise.
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It seems like my thoughts turn to ghosts in the fall. I don’t like icky horror, but I do like scary horror, so that is what I am starting to mull over now. Good luck!
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I love scary horror, as well, but I’ve never quite taken the risk and written any. I wander mostly in dark fantasy and other such genres.
Good luck to you, as well!
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I didn’t know they had a young adult contest. I’ve got a story for that! Thanks, Morgan.
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I am guessing they may not have had a YA category in the past, but with recent features on NPR and an article in Time, I think it has really hit the radar. Glad you have something to enter.
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You should never have to pay to enter a contest. That is a sign of a scam.
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Actually, a small fee is so much the norm – and I think reasonable – that I would be suspicious of a competition that offered cash prizes without an entry fee.
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