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The Scent of an Ending™ Contest FAQs Although White Eagle Coffee Store Press is a paper based publisher of literary poetry and fiction since 1992--like a lot of readers, we love quality paper and ink--contest results will publish first on this web site. But, if you are a winner or finalist, expect to be published in a chapbook and to receive some copies that you can either burn or give away, depending on the kind of reputation you want to have. Is this like the Edward Bulwer-Lytton bad writing contest? Yes! and No! While both competitions focus on deliberately bad writing, The Edward Bulwer-Lytton Contest celebrates bad opening lines; The Scent of an Ending™ Contest celebrates bad endings. Didn't I hear about this contest once upon a time? Yes. Our other enterprise MC3 offered this identical contest about 15 years ago with a plan to publish through White Eagle Coffee Store Press. However, the ad we paid for in a national publication was inadvertently run after the deadline for the contest. Writers got confused, we returned the submissions we received, took the loss and moved on. The handful of submissions were delightful, and we always wanted to try again. Deliberate bad writing can bring out the best in good writers. And, it's fun to read. What is the method of publication for winners? Initially, the winners and finalists will be published on this website. Eventually they will be published in a chapbook. Winners and finalists will receive copies. Why are some finalists already on the web site? Isn't the contest ongoing? Yes, it is ongoing. But. As we receive entries, we select finalists, so let's put 'em on display. Why the unusual dollar amounts for the prizes and entry fees? Why not? This whole project is unusual. Why have an entry fee at all? As you can see, the entry fee is very minimal, but it does help cover some costs, and it prevents anyone from flooding this press with entries, unless they want to pay us to read every single one. Are bad endings really that hard to write? Only if you're a good writer. I'm supposed to submit an imaginary title and the ending? Why both? Make up a title for this imaginary novel, so the bad ending at least makes some kind of sense. The title provides context. So, this is a parody contest? No. The imaginary title and ending you write might play off of a type of fiction, but not any specific work of fiction. That's just too obvious. And, too easy. How do I submit my entry? There seem to be two options. There are. Option 1: Submit the entry by mail. To do that, use your computer printer to prepare a double spaced text of the entry. It should be on one page. Send it by USPS in a business envelope with a check for $6.37. Be sure to include all contact information. You can also include an SASE for results, but results will be posted and published on this web site, so you can save the stamp. Mail to: The Scent of an Ending Contest, White Eagle Coffee Store Press, PO Box 383, Fox Rive Grove, IL Option 2: Submit by e-mail. To do that, send the text of the entry within an e-mail to scentofanending@aol.com. We will not open attachments. Send the $6.37 via PayPal to wecspress@aol.com. Be sure to include all contact information within the e-mail. You may submit more than one entry, but each entry must be accompanied by the $6.37 reading fee. By the way, please don't call or write or e-mail about your entry. We'll get in touch with you when we need to. If I win, who owns my ending? You do; after it's published all rights revert to you. You give up rights to first publication on the internet and in print. We will hold the rights to reprint after that, in a chapbook, on the internet, and in a collection. But you may reprint, too. What if I sort of borrow from another writer what I submit? Then, if you have a mother, she will be ashamed of you. Stealing words is still stealing. Read Neal Bowers, Words for the Taking. All winners and finalists will be required to sign a contract guaranteeing that the entry is original and unpublished. Suppose I've already put the submission on my own website? Then, it's published. Don't send it. What if I accidentally write a perfect ending for a brilliant novel? You're kidding, right? Where did you get the noses? What are they doing? And, can I supply one? We asked family and friends to provide some noses. Those noses are smelling the stink of bad endings. Sure, you can submit one, too. There are never enough noses to find all the bad stuff. Send a high quality copy of your rendering of a nose in an e-mail. No photos, but any other kind of 2-dimensional art will be considered. Make sure that your signature, or your mark, is visible in the artwork so you get some credit. We might use it in the website or on the book cover. Once we publish it, the nose is ours. Sorry, no payment for noses! NOSE CREDITS: We can't give the artists anything but infamy, and here it is. Noses by SMEDS, Misty Dyan Batson, Cheryl Graziano (maybe you?) |