Official Results of 2009
National Fantasy Fan Federation
Amateur Short Story Contest:
Jefferson Swycaffer – Final Judge
The winners are:
• First Place: B. Lynch Black's "Eyes on a Distant
Star," a story about a trio of musicians who get
caught up in something much larger than they had
expected. Yet their music itself is larger still.
• Second Place: George C. Fernandez's "The
Awakener's Dream," which depicts the heroic steps
that might be necessary... to save us from
ourselves.
• Third Place: Ken Lizzi's "Bargains," a story about a
hero, a monster, and a victim—except you can't
always tell which one is which!
• Honorable Mention: "The Other Side," a whimsical
tale of good and evil with not only one, but two
distinct "switcheroo" surprises by the end; ironic
and delectably humorous.
The contest management is embarrassed to note that we
do not have the name of the author of the Honorable
Mention story! We crave his or her pardon—and hope he
or she will contact us soon to remedy this lapse.
We received 15 submissions this year, ranging from
short-short stories in the classic "surprise ending" mode, to
lengthy and serious science fiction stories entailing
meaningful philosophical inquiries into the nature of
humanity. The quality of the writing was strong and
professional, and the ideas prove, once again, that
imagination is still the most powerful thing in the known
universe.
The stories provide, by turns, laughs and inspiration,
earnest thought, and an occasional shudder. The literature
of ideas has a future, and the writers who have entered this
contest—every one of them, not only the four finalists—are
the living and breathing soul of that future. It is an honor
not to judge among them, but to have been privileged to
read them. Each and every year, my only regret is that I am
not an actual anthology editor with a real budget, able to
buy the first serial rights to these stories and publish them
in an annual paperback, as they all earnestly deserve.
Special thanks to Jeff Redmond for serving as the
contest's public face, receiving and preparing manuscripts,
providing publicity, and coordinating with the N3F's
secretary and treasurer.—Jefferson P. Swycaffer
Contest Rules in PDF
2010 NATIONAL FANTASY FAN FEDERATION (N3F)
AMATEUR SHORT STORY CONTEST
Story Contest Rules and Entry Form
1. This contest is open to all amateur writers in the field,
regardless of whether they're members of the National
Fantasy Fan Federation. For the purposes of this contest,
we define an amateur as someone who has sold no more
than two (2) stories to professional science fiction or
fantasy publications.
2. Stories entered in the contest must be original,
unpublished, not longer than 8,500 words in length—and
must be related to the science fiction, fantasy, or similar
genres in the opinion of the judges.
3. Manuscripts should be typed, single sided on 8 1/2"-by-
11" white paper, double spaced, with pages numbered. The
name of the author should not appear anywhere on the
manuscript to ensure impartial judging. Photocopies are
acceptable, if they are of good quality. Computer printouts
must be legible. Email attachments of Word documents are
also acceptable.
4. Contestants can enter any number of stories, provided
that each is accompanied by a separate entry blank and
fee. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE)
if you would like your story returned at the end of the
contest. Do not send your only copy in case of accidental
loss; we are not responsible for lost manuscripts. Stories
will not be returned without an SASE.
5. The entry fee is $3 per story for N3F members in good
standing, and $5 for non-members. The extra $2 is for
printing and publicity, which will be paid for using N3F
funds. The basic $3 is for judge's expenses and prizes.
While N3F members are encouraged to enter the contest,
members will not receive any preference in judging.
Because of a long-standing agreement with the British
Science Fiction Association, BSFA members can pay the
same fee as N3F members.
6. Cash prizes totaling $100 will be awarded as follows:
First prize is $50, second $30, and third $20. Honorable
mentions and semi-finalists will receive a certificate of
award.
7. Send all manuscripts, accompanied by SASEs, entry
forms, and fees to the contest manager: Jefferson Swycaffer, P.O. Box 15373, San Diego, CA 92175-5373; n3f.story.contest@gmail.com. Make checks payable to William Center (N3F Treasurer). Well-concealed American cash (dollar bills) is
also acceptable. All entries must be received or
postmarked no later than Dec. 31, 2010.
8. The preliminary judge, who will pick the 10 or 12 semi-
finalists, will be a knowledgeable member of the N3F. The
final judge will be a professionally published writer.
9. The N3F assumes no publishing rights or obligations.
We want to encourage professional sales, not fan
publication. All entries will be returned after the contest is
over, if accompanied by an SASE. Winners will be notified
as soon as the judging is completed. Announcements and
notifications of winning entries will be made in March 2011.
Please take your time and submit your best work. You can
resubmit stories previously entered. All entries will be kept
confidential and will be judged fairly and anonymously. The
deadline for all entries Dec. 31, 2010. Good luck!
REQUIRED ENTRY BLANK INFORMATION
Must accompany story!
Title of Story (for identification): ___________________________________________________________
Author's Name & Address: _________________________________________________________________
Enclosed is the entry fee of $5 (N3F or BSFA member $3)
I have read the rules for the 2010 N3F Amateur Short Story Contest, and agree to them.
Signature: ______________________________________________________ Date: ___________________
Questions and submissions are to be made to:
Jefferson Swycaffer, P.O. Box 15373, San Diego, CA 92175-5373; n3f.story.contest@gmail.com.
Announcements and notifications of winning entries will be made in March of 2011.
Recommended reading is ELEMENTS OF STYLE by Strunk and White.
It is also suggested that someone else go over the entry before it is submitted.
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