The First Annual Unbiased Writers Contest

(And First Annual Unbiased Writers Contest - Children’s Contest)



1. THERE IS A FIVE-DOLLAR ($5) ENTRANCE FEE FOR EVERY ENTRY. LIMIT ONE MANUSCRIPT PER CONTESTANT. Make check payable to “Rachael Thomas” Attn: FAUWC or FAUWC Children’s Contest

2. Am I Eligible To Participate? Subject to the additional restrictions below, the First Annual Unbiased Writers Contest is open to residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 16 years of age and older at the time of entry. Residents 9-15 years of age are eligible for the FAUWC Children’s Contest.

3. How Do I Enter? The Contest will begin at 12 a.m. (C.T.) on April 15, 2008 and end at 11:59 p.m. (C.T.) on July 31, 2008. Contest entries must be no larger than 25,000 words. Children’s Entries must be no larger than 5000 words. To enter, send your check and your typed fictional manuscript with title to Rachael Thomas, 490 Ashwood Lane, Fairview, TX 75069. Include a cover page that states the title, your name, mailing address (including street address, city, state and zip code), phone number, and word count. For participants entering the Children’s Contest, put your age. Do not put any of your personal information (except the manuscript’s title) on the actual manuscript. No electronic mail entries will be accepted; manuscripts must be typed and mailed. Entries must be postmarked by April 15, 2008 to qualify. The First Annual Unbiased Writers Contest will not be responsible for incomplete, lost, late, misdirected or unreadable entries or for failure to receive entries due to transmission failures or technical failures of any kind, whether originating with sender or Contest. In the event of a dispute, all entries will be deemed to have been submitted by the owner of the mailbox from which they were sent. All entries become property of the Contest and will only be returned if participant includes a self addressed stamped envelope. The Contest reserves the right to disqualify any entries by persons determined to be tampering with or abusing any aspect of the Contest. The Contest reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not comply with these rules, that is alleged to infringe on any third party’s intellectual property rights, or that the Contest deems obscene, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate for viewing by a general audience. By submitting a manuscript in a Contest, you agree to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of these Official Rules, including the grant of rights set forth in number 7, below; if you do not agree with these terms and conditions, do not submit an entry.

4. How Will Winners Be Selected? The contest will select one (1) grand winner from among all eligible entries received up to midnight CT the previous Contest Day. The judges will also select one (1) children’s entry from all eligible entries received up to midnight CT the previous Contest Day, in addition to the winner selected in the adult category. The winners will be selected on the basis of creativity, composition, and quality.

5. What Could I Win? The grand prize winner will receive a reward based solely on the combination of entrance fees. Therefore, the more contestants, the bigger the prize. Tell all your friends to enter the Contest! The children’s award will be a $25 gift card to Target.

6. When Will Winners Be Notified? The Grand Prize Winner and Children’s Winner will be notified by phone within seventy-two (72) hours after he or she is selected as a winner. The prizes will be sent to the address on his or her entry’s cover sheet on or about August 5, 2008. The Contest’s inability to reach a winner, the return of any prize notification as undeliverable, a winner’s failure to timely respond to prize notification, and/or a winner’s failure to comply with any term or condition of these Official Rules may result in that winner’s disqualification, the forfeiture of his or her interest in all prizes, and the selection of a substitute winner. Winners may be required to complete an affidavit of eligibility, and a liability and publicity release (except where prohibited by law) which must be returned within ten (10) days of date of personal delivery or date of sender’s postmark.

7. What Other Terms Apply? Winners may waive their right to receive a prize. Prizes are non-assignable and nontransferable. No substitutions or cash equivalents allowed by winners. Winners are solely responsible for reporting and payment of any taxes on prizes. Except where prohibited, participation in the Contest constitutes each contestant’s consent to the publication of his or her name, likeness, city and state of residence and biographical information in any media, including without limitation the Internet, for any commercial or promotional purpose, without limitation or further compensation. Prizes not won and claimed by an eligible winner in accordance with these Official Rules will not be awarded and will remain the property of Contest. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Contest judges designated by the Contest. The Contest reserves the right to disqualify persons found tampering with or otherwise abusing any aspect of this Contest. In the event the Contest is compromised by a virus, non-authorized human intervention, tampering or other causes beyond the reasonable control of the Contest which corrupts or impairs the administration, security, fairness or proper operation of the Contest, it reserves the right in its sole discretion to suspend, modify or terminate the Contest. Should the Contest be terminated prior to the stated expiration date, the Contest reserves the right to award prizes based on the entries received before the termination date. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any such provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, these rules shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or unenforceable provision was not contained therein.

8. What Is The Reason For This Contest? After entering many contests, whose winners were chosen based on biased propaganda, Rachael Thomas wanted to give aspiring writers, young and old, a chance to get an unbiased opinion of their work and a good chance of winning.

9. How Can I Request The Winner’s Name Or A Copy Of These Rules? For the names of the winners (available after August 5, 2008) or a copy of these Official Rules, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Rachael Thomas, First Annual Unbiased Writers Contest, 490 Ashwood Lane, Fairview, TX 75069. Indicate whether you are requesting the winner’s name, a copy of these official rules, or both.