The Texas Observer Short Story Contest
Posted by David Duhr in 
I don’t have much to tell you about this week. I’ve been plugging away at my own project, and also helping put together the Texas Observer short story contest, our seventh year running. The winning writer gets $1,000 and publication in the Observer‘s October issue, as well as online. Finalists will also be eligible for online publication.
This year’s guest judge is Deb Olin Unferth, author of four books and presently a creative writing professor at UT-Austin. Her recent story collection, Wait Till You See Me Dance, has gotten rave reviews from all corners.
Deb tells us, “In short fiction I look for a voice that feels original, clear and urgent, and for a situation under pressure.”
So keep that in mind, if you choose to enter.
Every year some of you ask if WriteByNighters are eligible to enter. Stories are submitted anonymously, so, in general, yes, you’re eligible to enter. But there are a few exceptions:
1) If you are now, or have ever been, in one-on-one coaching with me, you’re ineligible to enter. Self-explanatory.
2) If I’ve ever done a critique, edit, or proof on a story of yours, that story is ineligible for submission. If you’re not sure if I’ve done work on a story you might want to enter, drop me a line and I’ll let you know.
3) If we have a relationship that goes deeper than professional, you’re ineligible to enter. I realize this is open to interpretation, so if you’re wondering if this means you, just ask me.
For the contest announcement, read my post over at the Observer.
To check out all of the details and/or to enter, visit the submission page.
That’s all the news on my end. What have you been up to? Let us know below.
I realize that’s a lazy discussion question, but hey, sometimes the simplest ones lead to the most interesting conversations!
WriteByNight co-founder David Duhr is copy editor and fiction editor at the Texas Observer and writes about books for the Dallas Morning News, Electric Literature, Publishing Perspectives, and others.
WriteByNight is a writers’ service dedicated to helping you achieve your creative potential and literary goals. We work with writers of all experience levels working in all genres, nationwide and worldwide. If you have a 2016 writing project that you’d like a little help with, take a look at our book coaching, private instruction and writer’s block counseling services. Join our mailing list and get a FREE writer’s diagnostic, “Common problems and SOLUTIONS for the struggling writer.”