Golden Visions Online Magazine of Science Fiction & Fantasy Contest Section....there may be several individual contests listed...scroll down for details....
Contest Information: Please read carefully...you may enter more than once, but not in the same e-mail submission. Please include all requested information in each entry. Free to enter. Cash prizes to top 3 stories!
1. It must be either sci-fi or fantasy, even mystery or horror-(but try to add some aspects of sci-fi or fantasy to it). No gore, graphic violence, or strong sexual content please. Please limit your use of expletives. The story must relate the theme of the contest.
2. Word count between 1500 and 3500 words- no more and no less.-we will double check! If you don't follow the word count you will be disqualified. Count your words and include with info. No reprints! Please include word count in submission.
3. It must be character driven. None of your characters have to be human, but it still must contain all the general expectations of any other story.
4. No graphic sexual content or strong sexual content. No four letter words please, (any story containing the F-word will be discarded- regardless of how well written it may be elsewise.) We believe that a good writer can find other ways to express themselves than to lower their moral and literary standards and succumb to the easy and cheesy way out. No graphic violence and violence against children will count as an immediate rejection. Yes, in the real world these things happen, and if you chose to write about it, please use discretion. Our site wishes to be uplifting and allow readers of all ages to enjoy the stories. If you feel the need to use terms and language that might be iffy- be a cunning linguist and find a way to express yourself, get your point across, and perhaps have us pull out our dictionary, but please refrain from trying to shock us with how many times or ways you can cuss, describe carnage or explain a physical encounter. Believe me, we've seen it before and we aren't impressed.
5. Tell a story, please. Don't preach. You can incorporate any variation of the contest theme into this story- so if you want to take this opportunity to express your viewpoint on supernatural beings and how they relate to our present day views on religion- here' s your chance. But do not take a historical event, or try to rewrite the Bible. These types of stories do not work for us, although a few writers have managed to do this, the majority fail miserably.
6. Double check your spelling and grammar- or have a friend do it. If your story is unreadable, no matter how good you think it is, it will not be considered. If you are using misspelled words due to the content of your story- please indicate this in the introduction- but don't get carried away.
7. Single space lines, double space between paragraphs. Do not indent first line. Use 12 pt. Courier or Times New Roman. This is easier for us to read. Failure to do so, could land you in File 13. (we get so many different fonts and odd formats that it drives us crazy)
8. Send the story to: contest@goldenvisionsmagazine.biz- or hit the contest icon or send to:editorgvm@hotmail.com Please indicate that this is a contest submission,. No attachments will be opened. Paste story in body of email. (or use our newest submission form and make sure you tell us that this is a contest entry) The form is new- but it's easy to use.
9. No reprints please. You may enter more than once- but no multiple submissions in a single email.
(you must enter each story individually) At the top of the submission include-
Your Name (real)
Byline (if you prefer a different name)
Mailing address
Story Title
Word Count
email address
short bio
We can not send your contributor copy to you unless you include this information. No need to add a phone number- we will contact all winners by email. You may contact us if you like, but unless you placed in the top three, we will most likely just send out a mass mailing note.......The winners will be posted online at the end of the contest. The stories will be in our July 2010 print issue, or the October print issue. (depending on when we complete the contest)
So get busy....have fun....and take the opportunity to learn from this experience. And Please follow these simple little rules....if you don't- you may end of getting your story tossed (aka recycled into the abyss).
There will be three winners:
1. First Place: Three contributor copies of the magazine. First place certificate. Cash award of $25.00
2. Second Place: Two contributor copies. Second place certificate. Cash award of $15.00
3. Third Place: One Contributor copy- certificate of placement- $10.00 cash award
Prizes subject to change.. ( if we get under 30 submissions, the cash prize may be reduced- but it also depends on the quality of the stories that we get),.still everyone that wins gets a contributor copy
The last contest (Save the Planet) had less than 25 submissions, whereas the Freedom contest had many good stories- and we wished we could have picked more. So get busy-start writing and enter. If we get enough entries- we may be able to offer each winner an additional copy of the magazine, and we may be able to select at least one honorable mention. Again- if there are less than 30 entries, the cash prize may be reduced!
The contest may be ended at any time without notice- since there is no entry fee- you will simply be notified either via email or we will post a note online.
The Rules
Winners of the Freedom Contest are:
Honorable Mention: Ritah Chumdermpadetsuk (twelve years old!) story- The Sealed Lips
Third Place- A J Kirby Story- Survival of the Fittest
Second Place- Bruce Davis Trojan Horse
First Place- Rupert Merkin - Finally Free
These stories are in our July print issue- just $8.00 for 120 pages of great stories! Congratulations to our winners for some outstanding stories!
Our Save the Earth Contest Winners are:
June Sorenson- first place- with her short, but touching story- Enlightenment.
Tala Bar- second place- for Saving Gaia
-Ritah Rae Chumdermpadetsuk. Jewel
Thanks to everyone for their wonderful submissions- These stories appeared in our January 2009 print edition..................
send your entries in for our AI contest. The winning stories will appear in our July print issue.
Unusual Alien Lifeforms Contest Winners...
Paul Crawford- EOS
J Troy Seate - A Rose by Any Other Name
Graham Debenham- Natural Order
Those of you who did not place, please feel free to resubmit your story into our regular submission site- many of them were good, a few did not adhere to the theme, and sadly we could only pick three winners. Thank you all for sending your stories our way. A lot of talented writers entered! FYI- if you don't list an email address, I can't send you a note letting you know about your story....the form comes from the web site and I have no way to trace the email......so please follow directions and send all the requested information.
Our Artificial Intelligence Contest is over....the winners are!
First Place (winner of $25.00) Eric Redmond with his story My Dog is Better Than Your Dog
Second Place (winner of $15.00) Michael Griffiths with Mindcoach
Third Place (winner of $10.00) James P Wagner who gave us NIC
Honorable Mention (no cash) Leslie Johansen with No Cavities Shall Remain
Get your copy of the July issue now- only $8.00 for an amazing print issue with coverart by Crystalwizard! It's worth every penny- and it helps us provide free issues for our amazing Military- every July issue is dedicated to all our uniformed hero's! Thank you for all you do.
Each winner earns at least one contributor copy with their cash prize.
Now that you have read the rules- you may submit using our new form- it will go to our editors and winners are notified at the end of the contest.
Click here to add text.
Now that you have read the rules- you may submit using our new form- it will go to our editors and winners are notified at the end of the contest.
Newest Contest Theme- Alien Encounters.
Try to be original....please. Only stories pertaining to our theme will be considered. Contest begins January 30th and ends May 18th. Use the form to ensure we get it.
Stories not adhering to guidelines will not be considered.
Please read before submitting. By entering the contest and submitting your story, you are allowing Golden Visions Magazine to publish your story in a future issue (either online or in print-which will mostly likely be in pdf format) and give up the rights to sell this story to any other medium for the duration of the contest, until the winner(s) is(are) announced. You offer your material as original work, never before published by any other medium (including appearing on any online website or blogsite that you have.
You understand that those living outside the continental US will receive only pdf copies (even if a physical print issue is offered) and that you have the option to receive extra issues in lieu of any cash offered- and that any offer of publication is made in good faith by the staff at Golden Visions Magazine, with the understanding that the work you offer is yours and that you have the legal right to offer your work to us. You must be 18 years of age to enter the contest, although in the past we have offered writers of all ages the opportunity to enter.
Any story not following the guidelines will be deleted, and you will not be notified of your disqualification. Winners will be notified by email only.
