Attention Writers: An Opportunity To Be Paid Ten Dollars A Word

November is National Novel Writing Month. It's that time of year when writers put their noses to the grindstone and crank out a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. That's 1666 words a day, which isn't wholly unreasonable. Jack London cranked out a thousand words a day. Hemingway strove to set down 500 "good words" a day, a more discriminating writer.

For most of us, attempting this while simultaneously clocking in a 40 hour work week is pretty preposterous, though not necessarily impossible with the aid of vacation days, sick days and a lot of coffee.

I recall years ago reading about a novel writing contest that took place over Labor Day weekend (if I remember correctly.) I considered giving it a go by not sleeping for a couple nights, something akin to the Rubber Chicken Theater's "Chicken Hat Plays," only slightly longer in duration. Alas.

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, I would like to commend to you a much more achievable goal, if you're up for it. It's a Flash Fiction story contest. 100 words. No entry fee.

The deadline is November 23, which is coming up fast. I'm willing to guess that most any writer worth his or her salt could produce 14 words a day. And actually, the Foundation is allowing us to submit two stories, so if you're up for it you can sweat out 28 words a day and enter twice!

First prize is $20,000. There are actually four first prizes, one for each of the four languages that writers may submit stories in. The other three first place winners will receive $1000. That amounts to ten dollars a word, which for most writers is a pretty good payday.

Here's another feature of the contest. Anyone who enters the contest and persuades others to participate can win $1000 as well, if that person you recruited wins the competition and has entered your identification code (which you receive once you enter.) MY IDENTIFICATION CODE IS 53421. I would be super grateful if you could use my i.d. code when you enter your story.

When you enter the contest you will see a small box for the five digit code. Go ahead and type 53421. Then, when you complete the entry you will be sent an email confirmation that tells you YOUR identification code. Go ahead and share the contest with your own followers with your code. If one of these folks wins, you will receive $1000 for being the one who encouraged them.

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
The César Egido Serrano Foundation is the non-profit Foundation convener of this initiative, and whose objective is to use words and therefore dialogue as a tool for understanding between different cultures and religions. The competition first prize is $20,000 for the best short story. All entries will be evaluated by an international jury of great prestige, and the finalist’s stories will be published. A maximum of two stories per person of no more than 100 words each, should be submitted from this link.

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE DEPT.

Here's the web page where I first saw the story of this contest, Aerogramme Writers' Studio.
The article includes a link to one of the previous winners' stories, titled Oysters.

TWO MORE LINKS FOR WRITERS
Here's a link to the article that set this blog post in motion, an article that I saw on Flipboard regarding National Novel Writers Month. The author uses the contest as an excuse to share 11 books on writing, for writers. Most are in the pop category with familiar authors like Stephen King and Ann Lamott. Quite a few, however were unfamiliar to me. You might want to slip a couple onto your Christmas Gift List.

The other is a much shorter read, a link to a page of Quotes For Writers that I assembled over 20 years ago when I built my first website.

* * * *
So if you want to throw your hat in the ring, or one of Bob's, then go for it. Deadline is in seven days. I'll be rooting for you, especially if you use my i.d. code, 53421.

How much can you say in a hundred words? Hemingway wrote a story in six once. 100 words might even feel verbose. Try it, and find out for yourself.

Write on!