2012 Submission Guidelines (contest ended)
The Phoenix Rattler Contest is Hosted by Christian Writers of the West (CWOW, ACFW-AZ)
Watch here for the next contest guidelines...
Your Manuscript:

  1. File format: Save the document as a .doc or .rtf file.
  2. Left-justified (ragged right edges).
  3. Indent first line of paragraph (.5" preferred).
  4. Margins: Minimum of 1" all around.
  5. Double-spaced only. Do not use special paragraph formatting of any kind.
  6. Font: 12 point Times New Roman (Courier or Courier New also accepted).
  7. Header: Preferred but not required. Header should include category entered, title, and page number (right justified).
  8. Your name: Do not include entrant’s name or pseudonym anywhere on the manuscript. (Your name must appear only on your entry form). The contest team removes your name from the file properties of your document before judging begins. All entries will be identified and tracked by an entry number assigned by the contest team.
  9. Punctuation: Recommend one space after a period instead of two.
  10. Emphasized words: Recommend italics. Underlining is acceptable. Not both.
  11. Chapter/Scene breaks: Please keep it simple. Use Chapter Name (example: PROLOG, CHAPTER 1) centered (no extra blank lines). If scene breaks are required for readability, use a centered pound sign (#) but no extra blank lines.
  12. Synopsis: The required synopsis (minimum 100 words, less than one page) must be placed at beginning of the manuscript. Label with centered text SYNOPSIS. Use a page break to separate it from the manuscript. The synopsis is not included in the 15-page limit. The synopsis includes intended genre, story premise and other key information for the entry (written as if for an editor or agent, not the back cover blurb).

Your Entry form and Entry Fee (one per manuscript entered):

  1. Entry Form: Complete entry form provided on the website. If on-line submission is not available, save the file and paste into email or attach with your manuscript file.  Entrants submitting multiple manuscripts must submit one entry form per manuscript.
  2. Entry Fee: Pay $25 for per manuscript via PayPal. Entrants submitting multiple manuscripts may combine their multiple entry fees into one PayPal payment.

Deadline for submissions and schedule of contest notifications:

  1. Contest Submission Deadline: All contest entries and contest fees must be received by 5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (no daylight savings in AZ) on the annual deadline of the contest. (For 2104 the deadline is 8/29/14, see the website for opening date) We recommend early submittal to allow resolution of any issues before the deadline.
  2. Disqualification: Entries that do not meet the Contest Deadline, Rules and Submission Guidelines will be disqualified. All entry issues must be resolved before judging begins.
  3. Schedule of Notifications:
    1. Entry Receipt: Receipt of entry will be confirmed before the preliminary round begins (see website for schedule of judging).
    2. Judging Results: Within two weeks of the end of the applicable round of judging (preliminary or final), entrants will receive an email with their status in the contest and the judges score sheet(s). If judges returned manuscript with embedded comments (optional) it will be attached.
  4. Questions? Comments? Missing notifications? Please communicate as soon as possible with the category coordinator (email on the website), the contest supervisor or the club president.
Dana McNeely, CWOW President
Tanara McCauley, Contest Supervisor

Christian Writers of the West, CWOW – Arizona’s ACFW affiliate club
www.ChristianWritersoftheWest.com

Questions or Comments:
CWOW President, via the 'Contact' form on this website
CWOW’s website www.ChristianWritersOfTheWest.weebly.com
(these guilelines are similar but not identical to the ACFW website guidelines for ACFW’s unpublished-author contests, to facilitate entry into the ACFW's contests upon the conclusion of this contest)
Effective 5-21-14