Penmen Review

SNHU Fall Fiction Contest Guidelines

Southern New Hampshire University’s (SNHU) 9th annual Fall Fiction Short Story Contest kicks off on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023. Writers can gain more than just bragging rights if their story is selected as a top-three finalist. They’ll have an opportunity to be published in The Penmen Review, SNHU’s online journal for creative writers, and win up to $3,000 in SNHU scholarships, along with a writing-focused prize package.

This contest is open to any writer, age 18 and up, based in the continental U.S., with the exception of SNHU faculty and staff. There is no entry fee. Submissions can cover any theme or topic, as long as they’re original, a work of fiction and no more than 1,500 words in length.

Timeline

Entries will be accepted beginning at 9 am EDT on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, through 11:59 pm EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. Public voting will be accepted on finalists beginning at 9 am EDT on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, and closing at 11:59 pm EDT on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023. 

The winner(s) will be announced in December.

Submission Requirements 

Short stories must be:

  • Double-spaced
  • Submitted as a Word Document
  • Formatted with the writer’s name and email address in the top left of the first page
  • No longer than 1,500 words
  • Limited to one entry per writer

Failure to adhere to these guidelines will automatically remove a submission from consideration in the contest.

Submit your entry here.

Judging

All submissions will be reviewed by the panel of judges by Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023, and five finalists will be selected and notified shortly thereafter.

All submissions will be judged on an overall score of 100 points.

Judging will be broken into two parts:

  1. Panel of Experts (up to 80 points, based on the following criteria):
  • Originality (16 points)
  • Thought process and structure (16 points)
  • Engaging and entertaining (16 points)
  • Character arc (16 points)
  • Grammar and writing style (16 points)
  1. Public Vote (up to 20 points)

SNHU will publicize the five finalists’ stories on the voting page and through various social media platforms to encourage public voting. Finalists will also have the opportunity to share their short story submission and the voting page on their social media channels and via private communication to have the general public vote on submissions of choice. 

Voters will be asked to consider the originality, thought process and structure, engagement and entertainment, character arc, and grammar and writing style of each finalists’ work prior to voting. Voters are allowed only one vote. All other votes beyond this will be removed from consideration. Finalists’ stories will be awarded points based on the highest number of votes.

  • The entry with the highest number of votes will earn an additional 20 points to be added to the judges’ scores.
  • The entry with the second-highest number of votes will earn an additional 15 points to be added to the judges’ scores.
  • The entry with the third-highest number of votes will earn an additional 10 points.
  • The entry with the fourth-highest number of votes will earn an additional 5 points.
  • The entry with the least number of votes will earn 1 additional point. 

Prizes

Prize packages will be awarded in five tiers with scholarships awarded to the top-three finishers in the Fall Fiction Competition.

The first-place winner will receive a:

  • $3,000 SNHU scholarship to be used toward an online or on campus bachelor’s or master’s degree program
  • Short story featured in The Penmen Review
  • The opportunity to read winning piece during a future Word for Word: Student Writer Spotlight
  • SNHU swag
  • “How to Write Short Stories and Get Them Published” by Ashley Lister
  • “The Best American Short Stories 2023”

The second-place winner will receive a:

  • $2,000 SNHU scholarship to be used toward an online or on campus bachelor’s or master’s degree program
  • Short story featured in The Penmen Review
  • The opportunity to read winning piece during a future Word for Word: Student Writer Spotlight
  • SNHU swag
  • “How to Write Short Stories and Get Them Published” by Ashley Lister
  • “The Best American Short Stories 2023”

The third-place winner will receive a:

  • $1,000 SNHU scholarship to be used toward an online or on campus bachelor’s or master’s degree program
  • Short story featured in The Penmen Review
  • The opportunity to read winning piece during a future Word for Word: Student Writer Spotlight
  • SNHU swag
  • “How to Write Short Stories and Get Them Published” by Ashley Lister
  • “The Best American Short Stories 2023”

The fourth-place finalist will receive:

  • Short story featured in The Penmen Review
  • The opportunity to read winning piece during a future Word for Word: Student Writer Spotlight
  • “How to Write Short Stories and Get Them Published” by Ashley Lister
  • “The Best American Short Stories 2023”

The fifth-place finalist will receive:

  • Short story featured in The Penmen Review
  • The opportunity to read winning piece during a future Word for Word: Student Writer Spotlight
  • “How to Write Short Stories and Get Them Published” by Ashley Lister
  • “The Best American Short Stories 2023”

Official Rules & Regulations

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

VOID IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

ELIGIBILITY: The Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) Fall Fiction Contest is open to persons 18 years of age or older at the date of entry within the continental U.S. Employees of Southern New Hampshire University are not eligible. This contest is subject to all applicable laws and regulations and is void where otherwise prohibited by law, rule, regulation or ordinance. One first-place winner, one second-place winner, one third-place winner, one fourth-prize winner and one fifth-prize winner will be chosen.

HOW TO ENTER: You may submit contest entries beginning at 9 am EDT on Monday, Oct. 3, 2023, through 11:59 pm EDT on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. Eligible persons may enter by uploading their written work via online submission form.

PRIZES:

One (1) first-place prize consisting of a

  • $3,000 SNHU scholarship to be used toward an online or on campus bachelor’s or master’s degree program
  • Short story featured in The Penmen Review
  • The opportunity to read winning piece during a future Word for Word: Student Writer Spotlight
  • SNHU swag
  • “How to Write Short Stories and Get Them Published” by Ashley Lister
  • “The Best American Short Stories 2023”

will be awarded to one (1) entrant.

One (1) second-place prize consisting of a

  • $2,000 SNHU scholarship to be used toward an online or on campus bachelor’s or master’s degree program
  • Short story featured in The Penmen Review
  • The opportunity to read winning piece during a future Word for Word: Student Writer Spotlight
  • SNHU swag
  • “How to Write Short Stories and Get Them Published” by Ashley Lister
  • “The Best American Short Stories 2023”

will be awarded to one (1) entrant.

One (1) third-place prize consisting of a

  • $1,000 SNHU scholarship to be used toward an online or on campus bachelor’s or master’s degree program
  • Short story featured in The Penmen Review
  • The opportunity to read winning piece during a future Word for Word: Student Writer Spotlight
  • SNHU swag
  • “How to Write Short Stories and Get Them Published” by Ashley Lister
  • “The Best American Short Stories 2023”

will be awarded to one (1) entrant.

One (1) fourth-place prize consisting of

  • Short story featured in The Penmen Review
  • The opportunity to read winning piece during a future Word for Word: Student Writer Spotlight
  • “How to Write Short Stories and Get Them Published” by Ashley Lister
  • “The Best American Short Stories 2023”

will be awarded to one (1) entrant.

One (1) fifth-place prize consisting of

  • Short story featured in The Penmen Review
  • The opportunity to read winning piece during a future Word for Word: Student Writer Spotlight
  • “How to Write Short Stories and Get Them Published” by Ashley Lister
  • “The Best American Short Stories 2023”

will be awarded to one (1) entrant.

All scholarship prizes must be redeemed within two (2) years of being awarded. All prizes are non-transferable. Prizes may not be substituted for or redeemed for cash. Winners are responsible for meeting applicable SNHU admission requirements. Payment of all applicable federal, state and local taxes is the sole responsibility of the winners as noted in detail below. The estimated retail value of the first-place prize is $3,050, $2,050 for second-place, $1,050 for third-place, $50 for fourth-place, and $50 for fifth-place. Any tax implications for scholarships and monetary value of the media awarded are solely the responsibility of the recipient. Winner will be required to complete an affidavit of eligibility, liability and release forms, W-9 with SSN, and such other documents as may be required. Scholarships will also be factored into financial aid award eligibility. SNHU reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value.

NOTIFICATION AND AWARDING OF PRIZES: The winner will be notified via email and/or telephone using the information that is provided at time of entry, by 11:59 pm EDT on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. Prizing will be coordinated between the winner and SNHU. SNHU shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever that is suffered (included, but not limited to, indirect or consequential loss) in the delivery of the prizes to the winners. Return of any prize or notification as “undeliverable,” or failure to comply with these Official Rules, will result in disqualification. In the event a winner is not found, an alternate winner may be selected at the discretion of SNHU.

TAXES AND TAX REPORTING: All costs, taxes, fees and expenses associated with a prize or the acceptance and use of any element of a prize not specifically addressed above are the sole responsibility of the winner. All federal, state and local taxes on a prize are the winner’s sole responsibility.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: Prior to awarding any prize, SNHU, in its sole discretion, may require winners to sign a liability release, agreeing to hold SNHU and affiliated corporations and shareholders, directors, employees, agents and representatives of each of them harmless against any and all liability arising directly or indirectly from use of the submitted materials, or participation in the contest, or the prize will be forfeited. Decisions of SNHU with respect to the contest, including but not limited to selection of the winners, are final. Failure to comply with the contest rules may result in a participant’s disqualification, at the sole discretion of SNHU. SNHU reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify these Official Rules in any manner and at any time. SNHU reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend or terminate this contest in any manner and at any time. By entering the contest, participant agrees to these Official Rules, agrees to be bound by the decisions of SNHU, agrees to forever release and hold harmless SNHU, its respective employees and agents from all liability, loss, damage or injury from participation in this contest, including, but not limited to, use or misuse of the prize, and acknowledges that SNHU and their respective employees and agents have neither made, nor are liable for, any warranty or guarantee, whatsoever, express or implied, in fact or in law, with respect to any prize hereunder. These contest rules are governed by and shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New Hampshire. By participating in this contest, each entrant submits to the personal jurisdiction of the State of New Hampshire.

REPRESENTATIONS OF NON-INFRINGEMENT AND COPYRIGHT OWNERSHIP:

The entry in its entirety must be a single work of original material written by the Contest entrant. By entering the Contest, entrant represents, acknowledges and warrants that the entry is an original work created solely by the entrant, that the entry does not infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity, and that no other party has any right, title, claim or interest in the entry. The entry must not, in the sole and unfettered discretion of the Sponsor, contain obscene, provocative, defamatory, sexually explicit or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate content.

If the entry contains any material or elements that are not owned by the entrant and/or which are subject to the rights of third parties, and/or if any persons appear in the entry, the entrant is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the entry, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the exhibition and use of the entry in the manner set forth in these Official Rules without additional compensation. If any person appearing in any entry is under the age of majority in their state/province/territory of residence, the signature of a parent or legal guardian is required on each release.

Upon Sponsor’s request, the winner must be prepared to provide, prior to the award of any prize elements, a signed release from all persons who appear in the entry selected as the winning entry. Failure to provide such releases upon request may result in disqualification of the winner, the forfeiture of all interest in prizes and selection of an alternate winner

LICENSE GRANT:

By entering the Contest, each entrant grants Sponsor and its licensees (“Authorized Parties”) a non-exclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable and perpetual right and license to use, reproduce, distribute, display and create derivative works of his or her entry and any information submitted with the entry, with proper attribution, solely in connection with the Contest and promotion of the Contest, in any media now or hereafter known (the “License”). Such License grant shall only apply to those entrants whose entry is chosen as winners of the Contest.

INTERNET AND USE OF TECHNOLOGY: If for any reason this Contest is not capable of running as planned due to an infection by a computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures or any other causes beyond the control of SNHU which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Contest, SNHU reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the Entry process. SNHU assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of Entries. SNHU is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunctions of any telephone network or telephone lines, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any email or Entry to be received by SNHU due to technical problems, human error or traffic congestion on the Internet or at the Website, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participating in this Contest. SNHU IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR INCOMPATIBILITY OF ENTRANT’S HARDWARE, SOFTWARE OR BROWSER TECHNOLOGY WITH SNHU’S HARDWARE, SOFTWARE OR BROWSER TECHNOLOGY. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SNHU RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES OR OTHER REMEDIES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTEMPT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. SNHU may ask any Entrant or potential Winner to provide SNHU with proof that such party is the authorized account holder of the email account associated with the Entry.

SNHU is not responsible for computer system, phone line, technical, hardware, software or program failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmission or network connections that are human or technical in nature. Use of automated devices is not valid for Entry. SNHU is not responsible for incorrect or inaccurate Entry information, whether caused by Internet users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Contest or by any technical or human error, which may occur in the processing of the Entries in this Contest. Incomplete, unreadable, inaccurate, unintelligible or late Entries or Entries which otherwise do not comply with these Official Rules will be disqualified. All Entries, upon submission, become the sole property of SNHU and will not be acknowledged or returned and SNHU has the right to dispose of the Entries at SNHU’s discretion. SNHU reserves the right to, in its sole discretion, cancel, modify or suspend the online portion of this Contest (or the entire Contest) should any computer virus, bugs or other technical difficulty or other causes beyond the control of SNHU corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the Contest, at which time, the selection of the Winner will be determined on the judging criteria mentioned above.

Submit your entry here.