Competition format

[RG570]

I've got a contest entry ready to go, but the magazine only says they want it in "competition format", and not much else. I don't really know what this means, and the search engines don't turn up anything useful. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

Another little thing I'm not sure about is whether or not to put the title on the first page of the story. I'd think not, since you already have the cover page with the title on it, as well as the title on a header on every page of the story, but I want to be sure. Oh, and I'm also unsure about whether or not to add page numbers.

[blacbird]

Every contest I've ever entered had very specific guidelines about how they wanted entries formatted. I am unaware that there is any such animal as a uniform "competition format". In all the contests I've entered, the basic double-spaced TNR or Courier 12-pt type manuscript has been required, but some contests are blind-judged (meaning they don't want your name anywhere on the manuscript itself), others are not. Always use page numbers; I can't imagine anyone not wanting them. And I always put the title on the first page, regardless. Let common sense rule your entry format, and if the contest doesn't like it, it probably is a contest not worth entering again.

caw.

[alleycat]

I would look further for the competition guidelines, either in the magazine or online. If you can't find them, e-mail them with the question.

There's generally a requirement about your name only appearing on a cover sheet (and not in a header on each page) and a few other particulars for a contest. They probably do want the title keyword and page number in a header on each page.

If you still can't find the guidelines, tell us what contest and we'll try to help you find them.

[RG570]

Okay, I think I figured out the format stuff. But they didn't say whether or not to send a SASE with the entry.

I'm thinking no, since it's a contest, meaning they won't need to send a rejection letter if my story sucks. What's the general protocol here?

[alleycat]

Most of the time they will say "send an SASE if you want your entry back" or they will say "no entries will be returned".

I wouldn't send a SASE. You can mark the MS as "disposable copy" if you'd like.