The 2011 Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest (Free Entry, Science Fiction)

19 August 2010
The 2011 Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest (Free Entry, Science Fiction)
Deadline: 1 February 2011
Geographical Restrictions: none
Reading Fee: none
Accepts (genre): short stories that show the near future
Prize/Payment: publication, standard rate, free entry into the 2011 International Space Development Conference, one year membership

-Write a short story of no more than 8,000 words, that shows the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration.

-No entry fee. But please only submit one story...your best one!

-No reprints.

-All entries must be original works in English. Plagiarism, poetry, song lyrics, or characters from another person’s works will not be considered.

-E-mail submissions only. Send entries as .rtf attachments to: baen.nss.contest@gmail.com

-Please put the word SUBMISSION in the subject line when sending a contest entry and QUESTION in the subject line for questions to the contest administrator.

-Please include the following in the body of your email: The title of the work, the author's name, address and telephone number, and an approximate word-count. The manuscript should be an RTF attachment, in standard manuscript format and should be titled and numbered on every page, but the author's name MUST BE DELETED to facilitate fair judging.

-Employees of Baen Books, NSS and previous Grand Prize Winner are not eligible. Previous Second and Third place winners are eligible.

-Contest opens for submissions on October 1, 2010
(entries sent before that date will be deleted unread)

-Deadline - February 1, 2011.

WHAT WE DO WANT TO SEE:
Moon bases, Mars colonies, orbital habitats, space elevators, asteroid mining, artificial intelligence, nano-technology, realistic spacecraft, heroics, sacrifice, adventure.

WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO SEE:
Stories that show technology or space travel as evil or bad, Star Wars type galactic empires, paranormal elements, UFO abductions.

JUDGES:
Judging will be by Baen Books editors Hank Davis, Jim Minz and a soon to be named celebrity writer.

PRIZES:
- The GRAND PRIZE winner will be published as the featured story on the Baen Books main website and paid at the normal paying rates for professional story submittals. The author will also receive an engraved award, free entry into the 2011 International Space Development Conference, a year's membership in the National Space Society and a prize package containing various Baen Books and National Space Society merchandise.

- SECOND and THIRD place winners will receive a year's membership in the National Space Society and a prize package containing various Baen Books and National Space Society merchandise.

- Winners will be announced and notified no later than March 15, 2011. (only the winners will be notified) The winners will be honored at the 2011 International Space Development Conference in Huntsville, Alabama, May 18-22, 2011. (though we would prefer the winner attend the conference, it is not required.)

( * Note: Publication details will be worked out between winner and Baen Books. In the unlikely event that none of the stories qualify for professional publication, a cash prize, of an amount determined by contest organizers, may be substituted in lieu of publication.)

More information here.
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