Easy to remember: 2010 contest deadline fall on Valentine's Day and Independence Day 2010 (for poetry), and Valentine's Day 2010 for fiction. Full details are below.
For 2010, we have decided to publish four documents, and allow our subscribership to submit to one poetry contest, or both. This division allowed us to reduce the entry fee per contest to a $20 total, which is affordable for the majority of our writers, and which includes a two-item subscription.
BASICS
For 2010, submissions to Sensations Magazine are contest-based. There is a fee per batch entered, and that fee includes receipt of two of our publications. There is no guarantee of acceptance upon payment of a fee; we are not a "vanity press." We require all submitted works to be stripped of your name or personal identifying information on the pages of the poems or stories, in order to help assure selection of works based on one criteria: the quality of the work itself. We have a healthy balance of returning poets and fiction writers, and publish new work from them, and from writers who have never published with us before. We are not a stuffy, elitist group. We welcome any talented writers who wish to be a part of our community.
SUMMARY OF THE THREE 2010 CONTESTS
CONTEST 1: "20TH CENTURY AMERICA" POETRY CONTEST
DEADLINE: FEB 14, 2010
For poetry submissions to Sensations Magazine Issue 47, Spring/Summer 2010, "20th Century America," there are two options.
OPTION 1: SUBMIT FOUR POEMS, TOTAL ENTRY FEE - $20 (PAYABLE TO "THE SIX CENTURIES CLUB")
OPTION 2: SUBMIT TEN POEMS, TOTAL ENTRY FEE - $50
(PAYABLE TO "THE SIX CENTURIES CLUB")
OPTION 1, SUBMIT 4 POEMS:
A total of four poems, one poem per subject, on each of the following:
"America, 1901-1925"
"America, 1926-1950"
"America, 1951-1975"
"America, 1976-2000"
Poems may be about the above time periods in total, or an individual person, event, place, or mood during each 25-year period.
We prefer for one of the poems to be in a structured form (sonnet, sestina, villanelle, etc.)
All submissions must not be previously published in a currently operating American literary magazine. You may include poems that you have published in a personal poetry book, chapbook, or anthology with a circulation of fewer than 500 copies.
OPTION 2, SUBMIT 10 POEMS:
A total of 10 poems, one per decade of the 20th century (1901-1910, 1911-1920, etc.) may be submitted under Option 2. Poems may be about an individual person, event, place, or mood related to America during each decade.
We prefer that a minimum of two of the poems be in form, and the remainder in free verse.
All submissions must not be previously published in a currently operating American literary magazine. We prefer new, unpublished work. However, you may submit poems that you have published in a personal poetry book, chapbook, or anthology with a circulation of fewer than 500 copies.
OPTION 1, WHAT YOU RECEIVE FOR YOUR $20:
If you are not a 2009 member of The Six Centuries Club, you will receive this two-issue subscription: one copy of Sensations Magazine Issue 46, "19th Century America," and one copy of Sensations Magazine Issue 47, "20th Century America," regardless of whether or not your poetry is selected for publication.
If you are a 2009 member of The Six Centuries Club, you will receive one copy of Issue 47, "20th Century America," and one copy of the 2008-2010 Sensations Magazine Supplement, containing additional research on America in the 1600s, 1700s, and 1800s.
Your $20 payment also entitles you to attend private "members only" events of The Six Centuries Club, which will be held between April and August 2010. Please note that all private and public Sensations Magazine and Six Centuries Club events are smoke-free, for the enjoyment of all our guests.
OPTION 2, WHAT YOU RECEIVE FOR YOUR $50:
One copy of Sensations Magazine Issue 47, "20th Century America"; one copy of Sensations Magazine Issue 48, "21st Century America"; and one copy of Formal by David Messineo, a hardcover poetry collection. You will receive all of these, regardless of whether or not any of your poems are accepted for publication.
AWARDS, CONTEST 1 (OPTION 1 OR 2):
One author's work will be selected as "Best Batch," and that author will receive $5 per poem.
Additional poems will be selected for publication, with no monetary compensation.
All authors whose poems are published in Issue 47 will be invited to read the poem(s) selected for publication at a public debut reading for Issue 47. Any travel/lodging costs to attend our events must be incurred by the author. We anticipate that these debut events will be held in New Jersey.
Issue 47 will be scanned for inclusion in a database available to numerous university libraries, which gives your work worldwide distribution on six continents. We have recently published reports (in 2008-2009) of Sensations Magazine issues being sought out and read in countries such as Australia, Brazil, France, Japan, Jordan, and Turmekistan.
ADDITIONAL CONTEST REQUIREMENTS:
END OF SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR CONTEST 1.
CONTEST 2: "21st CENTURY AMERICA" POETRY CONTEST
DEADLINE: JULY 4, 2010
For poetry submissions to Sensations Magazine Issue 48, Fall/Winter 2010, "21st Century America"
TOTAL ENTRY FEE: $20 (PAYABLE TO "THE SIX CENTURIES CLUB")
WHAT YOU CAN SUBMIT:
A total of four poems, one poem per subject, on each of the following:
"September 11, 2001"
"America, 2000-2010"
"What the Future Could Bring: America, 2011-2100"
"UFOs"
Poems may be about the above time periods in total, or an individual person, event, place, or mood during each time period.
We prefer for one of the poems to be in a structured form (sonnet, sestina, villanelle, etc.)
Poems about September 11, 2001 must not be published in any previous book, chapbook, or literary magazine.
All other submissions must not be previously published in a currently operating American literary magazine. You may include poems that you have published in a personal poetry book or chapbook with a circulation of fewer than 500 copies.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE FOR YOUR $20:
One copy of Sensations Magazine Issue 48, Fall/Winter 2010, "21st Century America"
One copy of the Sensations Magazine Supplement on the theme of UFOs, to be published in 2010
Your $20 payment also entitles you to attend private "members only" events of The Six Centuries Club, which will be held between September and December 2010. Please note that all private and public Sensations Magazine and Six Centuries Club events are smoke-free, for the enjoyment of all our guests.
AWARDS, CONTEST 2:
One author's work will be selected as "Best Batch," and that author will receive $5 per poem.
Additional poems will be selected for publication, with no monetary compensation.
All authors whose poems are published in Issue 48 will be invited to read the poem(s) selected for publication at a public debut reading for Issue 48. All authors whose poems are published in the Sensations Magazine Supplement on the theme of UFOs will be invited to read the poem(s) selected for publication at a debut reading for that supplement, which may be included in the same event as Issue 48 or in its own separate event. Any travel/lodging costs to attend our events must be incurred by the author. We anticipate that these debut events will be held in New Jersey.
Issue 48 will be scanned for inclusion in a database available to numerous university libraries, which gives your work worldwide distribution on six continents. We have recently published reports (in 2008-2009) of Sensations Magazine issues being sought out and read in countries such as Australia, Brazil, France, Japan, Jordan, and Turmekistan.
ADDITIONAL CONTEST REQUIREMENTS:
END OF SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR CONTEST 2.
CONTEST 3:
"20th AND 21st CENTURY AMERICA"FICTION CONTEST
DEADLINE FEB 14, 2010
For fiction submissions to Sensations Magazine Issue 47, Spring/Summer 2010, "20th Century America," and Issue 48, Fall/Winter 2010, "21st Century America"
TOTAL ENTRY FEE: $30 (INCLUDES BOTH ISSUES 47 AND 48)
Fiction writers may submit up to 24 pages of fiction, as follows:
Time period requirements:
Other requirements:
FICTION CONTEST AWARDS
"POETRY & FICTION" CONTEST SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS - ON OR BEFORE THE POSTMARK DEADLINE OF FEB 14, 2010
Individuals who wish to submit poetry and fiction may submit four poems and one story: the poems set in one century, the story set in another.
One exception: a husband/wife writing team, or two partnered writers in the same household, may write about the same century - and, if both are selected for publication, we'll try to print at least one piece by each person on facing pages, or one following the other, provided they are proximate to each other in time period (works in each issue are published chronologically).
Maximum story length is 15 pages - FIRM. If submitted poetry and fiction, follow all submission instructions for Poetry Contest 1 or 2, as appropriate.
MAILING YOUR SUBMISSION PACKAGE
CONTEST DECISIONS
END OF SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR CONTEST 3.
"GENERAL THEME" MATERIAL IN 2011
Writers who submit poetry or fiction to us in 2008, 2009, or 2010 will be able to submit "general theme" material to us in 2011, when Sensations Magazine publishes Silver Anniversary Issue 49.
Best of luck to all contest entrants!
