$10,000 in total prizes will be awarded to this year's winners of The Gertrude Johnson Williams literary contest: new writers have won more than $100,000 in total prizes in previous contests!

NEW AND EMERGING writers have an opportunity to win prizes totalling $10,000 in the 13th annual EBONY writing contest, which was founded by EBONY Publisher and Editor John H. Johnson in honor of his late mother, Mrs. Gertrude Johnson Williams, and is designed to provide encouragement for previously unpublished writers.

Over the years, winners and runners-up in the EBONY writing contest have gone on to publish books and produce plays, win major literary awards, and to develop screenplays for feature films and television.

In addition to uncovering new writing talent, another purpose of the contest is to raise the level of consciousness and hope of African-American writers and readers. What we seek in this contest, therefore, are stories that inspire, not depress.

As Publisher Johnson says: "We believe, without apology, that African-American writers should increase the level of hope by showing African-Americans grappling with their fate, defining and redefining the African-American tradition by refusing to give in or give up."

The contest is open to all Americans of African descent who have not previously received money or other financial consideration for writing short stories, novels, plays, television or movie scripts. Contestants should submit original short stories for judging by a panel of editors.

The winning entry will be announced in the May 2005 issue of EBONY, and may be published solely at the discretion of Johnson Publishing Co., 820 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill. 60605. The announcement will constitute due notice to all contestants. The deadline for submission of manuscripts is midnight, January 2, 2005.

Contestants will be bound by the following rules and stipulations:

1. Contestants can submit only one short story.

2. Manuscripts must be typewritten, double-spaced, on one side of a standard-sized 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper and should not exceed 2,500 words.

3. Each manuscript must be accompanied by a letter certifying that the short story is original and is not based on the work of any other writer--living or dead. The accompanying letter must also state that the names, characters and incidents are fictional and that any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental.

4. A panel of professional writers will read the entries and make a preliminary selection based on originality, structure, character development, dialogue, fresh and sparkling use of language, understanding of the Black tradition, emotional appeal and suitability to use by other media.

5. Final selections will be made by EBONY editors.

6. The first-prize winner will receive $5,000 and five runners-up will receive $1,000 each and honorable mentions.

7. Winning stories may be published solely at the discretion of Johnson Publishing Co., which retains for one year the exclusive right to publish the prize-winning entries. The company also may publish the winning entry in an anniversary issue or in a collection featuring the best of EBONY stories.

8. Manuscripts submitted become the property of Johnson Publishing Co. until the winners are announced. Although manuscripts will not be returned, writers retain all rights to their stories, which can be sold or submitted to other contests after our selections are announced.

9. Employees of Johnson Publishing Co. and their family members are ineligible to enter the contest.

No information about the contest will be given by telephone, and all entries must be postmarked by midnight, January 2, 2005.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Johnson Publishing Co.
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