This contest provides a forum for new talent of any age and gives them a chance to learn about the publication process and its requirements. The submission requirements are not negotiable…

Entries must be science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural, and alternate history in short fiction, poetry, or comics.

All entries remain the intellectual property of the writers, although by entering this contest the writer gives GPS limited rights to share a winning entry.

The 2021 cycle of the Writing Contest starts on January 1 and will run through July 1, 2021

The winner of each Youth Division will receive a $50 Amazon.com  gift certificate, with a second $50 gift certificate being awarded to the winner’s school.

The Poetry Division winner will receive a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate.

The general winner of the Open Division will receive a $75 Amazon.com gift certificate. The Scott Imes Award winner will receive a $100 gift certificate from Uncle Hugo’s (2020 & 2021 note — equivalent award will be given if Uncle Hugo’s is not able to offer a certificate)

The Graphic Novel (Comics) Division winner will receive a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate.

Dates to keep in mind

The deadline for entries to be submitted is by 11:59 pm CDT on July 1, 2021.

Winners will be notified by the end of July, and publicly announced at a Convergence 2021 — August 5-8, 2021

Winning entries will be shared on the this webpage by the end of September.

Divisions

Please select a division to enter. You may only enter one short fiction division. You have

the option to also enter a poem in the Poetry Division and/or a short comics in the Graphic Novel (Comics) Division.

Open: Short fiction only. Open to writers of any age. There will be TWO (2) winners chosen from this category. The Open Division winner will be chosen from all entries.

An additional local writer will be chosen from contestants residing within 200 miles of Geek Partnership Society to receive the Scott Imes Award. This award proudly honors Scott Imes, a major force in the Twin Cities’ science fiction reading and writing community who passed away in December 2001. For over two decades, Scott Imes worked at Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction Bookstore and promoted the speculative fiction genres. His recommendations served those far beyond its doors.

Poetry: Poems only. Open to writers of any age.

Youth 1: Short fiction only. Open to writers 13 years of age or younger as of July 1, 2021.

Youth 2: Short fiction only. Open to writers 14-16 years of age as of July 1, 2021.

Graphic Novel (Comics): Short comics only. Open to writers of any age.

Judging

Two or more qualified writers or editors will evaluate each submission. All works will be screened to ensure they meet the contest rules and submission requirements stated above. The judges will NOT read any entries that do not meet these guidelines.

Questions

If you have questions, please contact the Writing Contest Coordinator at writingcontest @ geekpartnership.org.

For more information, go to https://geekpartnership.org/programs/writing-contest/.