The High Country Words Writing Competition is run according to the following guidelines. Please read before you enter.
Categories
- Short story: 2000 words maximum, prizes $1000 open and $500 local
- Poetry: 100 lines maximum, prize $500
- Bush poetry: 100 lines maximum, prize $500
Entry Fees
- The entry fee is $20 for an initial entry with $10 each for further entries.
- Local/student/pensioner entry fee $10.
- Arts Mansfield members and Mansfield Readers & Writers members get one free entry.
Formatting
- Times News Roman 12 point font
- Double line spacing
- Wide margins
- Does not have your name appearing on any of the pages.
Judging
The judges decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Copyright and ownership
- You warrant that the work you submitted is your own work.
- You warrant that the work you submitted is not AI generated.
- You retain copyright in the work.
Sample Contract Terms
If you are selected for the High Country Words Anthology, these are indicative terms.
First Publication Rights
If you are short-listed, we ask for first publication rights with a non-exclusive licence. That is, you would be free to publish your work anywhere else that you wish, after it has been published the High Country Words Anthology.
Editorial input and consultation
We will apply our house style to ensure consistency of punctuation and formatting. We may also provide editorial input and suggest changes to the work, where we find errors or where we are of the opinion that such changes would render the work more suitable for publication in the anthology. Editorial changes will not be incorporated into the published work without your consent.
Correction of proofs
Proofs will be sent to you before the anthology goes to print. We will make every effort to ensure that you have reasonable time to check and correct proofs. You agree to correct the proofs within the timeframe we allocate.
Payment
We are unable to offer payment for publication in this inaugural anthology, although we would hope to work towards that with future anthologies. We will enthusiastically promote and celebrate your inclusion in the anthology, which will help build or consolidate your profile in Australia’s literary community.
Author copies
As a contributing author you’ll receive 2 copies of the anthology. These will be posted by regular post to the address you nominate in this agreement. You can also nominate to collect your copies if you are attending the festival or live locally.
Problems and their resolution
By signing this agreement you and Mansfield Readers and Writers Inc agree to resolve any problems that arise with this agreement or with the work you supply, in a spirit of goodwill. However, should problems be too difficult to resolve without mediation, both you and Mansfield Readers and Writers Inc agree to seek resolution by mediation or other means with the intention of achieving resolution.
Our relationship
Nothing in this Agreement creates any relationship of partnership or employment between you and Mansfield Readers and Writers Inc.