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"At the core of the personal essay," Philip Lopate writes, "is the supposition that there is a certain unity to human experience." As essayists, in talking about ourselves, we are in some way talking about everyone. It is our experience that matters and our interest in sharing it that moves others. Orhan Pamuk, 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature, put it this way in his acceptance speech, "All true literature rises form this childish, hopeful certainty that we resemble one another."

To judge a personal essay contest means first to be an interested reader, and to the interested reader, being let in on all manner of human experience is not only mentally pleasurable, it also elicits gratitude and friendship.

As personal essayists, we work very hard to catapult ourselves, via our words, into new territory. When we are done, the beautiful web of our thinking and associations glistens.

--Sheila Bender

Thanks so much!I'm thrilled to be honored by Writing It Real and look forward to your comments.

--Jan Burak Schwert

This is a huge thrill for me. Thank you!

--Lori Stott

As I have mentioned before, your experience, writing and website is so important to me and to so many others. It is as though we have found a united voice for our memories, feelings and ideas to share with others and in turn help us understand who we are, why we write and the importance of having a site like yours to exchange our essays. Thank you so much for my honorable mention award. It means a lot to me.

--Diane Leone-Ferdico

Writing It Real Summer/Fall 2010 Poetry & Essay Contest

Reading Period: August 1 - October 31, 2010

It’s a special kind of contest aimed at helping you develop your work. Everyone’s a winner because when you send in a draft, a free-write, or a piece you think may be done but you wonder about; within two weeks you’ll receive detailed response to your work from master teacher Sheila Bender, author of over ten books on writing, most recently Writing and Publishing Personal Essays from Silver Threads publishing and Creative Writing Demystified forthcoming from McGraw-Hill. After you receive Sheila's response, you have until November 15, 2010 to enter a revision for final judging by a guest editor.

The earlier you get your pieces in, the more time you have for rewriting. Initial entries may be up to six pages of double-spaced prose or three poems. The rewrites you do may become longer and will be entered into the final judging by our guest editor.

Prizes!

By November 30th, three winners will receive a tuition waiver ($120) for a Writing It Real online class and a half-hour consult by phone with Sheila But everyone’s a winner because everyone receives professional help on their writing!

Contest Submission Guidelines

Contest Deadline: Work must be sent electronically or postmarked by October 31, 2010. There is no additional fee for the revised draft to be entered for judging. First drafts can be up to six pages double-spaced of prose or three poems. Expect Sheila’s response to the work by email within two weeks. Our electronic submission form and mailing directions are below. Second drafts may be longer than the initial entry and should be mailed or emailed (iinfo@writingitreal.com) by November 15th.

$15 Reading Fee for Current WIR Subscribers: If you are sending a check from outside the United States, be sure the amount in US dollars is officially typed by a bank and not handwritten. Checks should be made payable to: "Writing It Real." The electronic submission and payment form is below.

$45 Reading Fee for new subscribers or renewals: That is $30 for a year’s subscription to Writing It Real and $15 for the contest reading fee. If you are sending a check from outside the United States, be sure the amount in US dollars is officially typed by a bank and not handwritten. Checks should be made payable to: "Writing It Real." The electronic submission and payment form is below. To read more about Writing It Real please visit our magazine page.

Note: International entrants who use Ikobo for payment may submit their manuscript to info@writingitreal.com Credit cards are accepted using the link supplied with the online submission form.

Mailed Essays: The submitted essays and poems must be accompanied by the reading fee and a cover sheet that contains the author's name, title of the works, phone number, address and email. Pages should be numbered. Don't worry; the cover sheet won't be counted toward length; so again, please make the cover page separate from the essay. Mailed submissions will NOT be returned -- NO SASE's please.

Paper submissions should be mailed to:

Writing It Real Contest
394 Colman Drive
Port Townsend, WA 98368

Writing It Real Contest - Electronic Contest Submission

1. Give us Your Contact Information

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2. Upload your Essay

Use the "Browse" button to choose the correct file on your hard drive.

3. Make Your Payment

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Your subscription will be credited within 24 hours of payment and you will receive an email from us telling you about your new subscription or your subscription extension.