A CHAPBOOK is a small booklet.
Usually of tales, poetry, fiction, even essays or creative nonfiction.
For our purposes, let’s only consider booklets 18-24 pages long of the physical size of 5.5” x 8.5”.
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A chapbook can be all poetry, or all stories, or all essays.
Or, it can be a combination of two, or all, of the mentioned genres.
In real life, a chapbook may contain photos, drawings, and all sorts of illustrations.
For our contest purposes, let’s not consider the non-text or illustrations for a while.
Let’s not use a lot of photos and drawings.
Except maybe for the cover.
The cover may have a photo or drawing, or some sort of a cover design.
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So yeah, let have a cover.
And let’s reserve the very last page for the bio-note of the author.
The author may also include a photo of themselves.
But for our contest, the last page will not be judged.
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In fact, the organizers will hide the last page so that the chapbook entries can be judged blindly.
We will also hide the cover or first page where the identity of the author is revealed.
Maybe just hide the name of the author; I’m thinking if the cover design is thoughtfully done, it’s a plus point for the author.
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We will only accept electronic submissions.
NO PRINTED COPIES.
You layout your chapbook on a Word Document, or something like that.
Keep the fonts simple: size 12 of Times New Roman, or Book Antiqua, or Arial.
(We/you can always beautify your fonts when we/you decide to publish your chapbook.)
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You submit your Word Document by email to 500tinaga@gmail.com
Submission period is May 28 to May 31.
Deadline is May 31.
Do not even think that we will extend the deadline.
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This is the 2023 Peter’s Prize for Pandemic Literature (Chapbook).
The contest is open to the following languages: English, Filipino, Hiligaynon.
No, there are no divisions in language.
We will judge by content, not by the language used.
A Hiligaynon entry stands the same chance as an English or Filipino entry.
In fact, we also welcome a mixture of two or more of the aforementioned languages.
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Most people think that the pandemic literature boat has already sailed.
I think otherwise.
I think that now is the best time to process and reflect on our experiences of the pandemic.
I think that things like “what I learned from the pandemic” are still relevant.
And so are stories about “what I lost in the pandemic”.
Sometimes, we can put grief in perspective, and achieve some healing.
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2023 is the best time to put into order and perspective our chaotic experiences of the last three years.
So many things can be said about the Covid-19 pandemic:
Online life.
Survival.
Militarization.
New normal.
Mental health.
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After three years, we now have a better understanding of the virus, and the diseases or co-morbidities it brought.
We can even now evaluate your decision to get vaccinated or not.
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Some of us have discovered their true passions during those dreadful Covid times.
Losing a job led to occupational and lifestyle changes.
Many went on to become bakers, online sellers, plantitos, TikTok superstars, even sex workers via OnlyFans, et cetera.
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Three winners will be chosen.
P5,000 will be awarded to the first prize.
P3,000 to the second prize.
P2,000 to the third prize.
We don’t normally award a tie.
But last year, a judge strongly suggested a tie for the third prize.
And we did it.
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All winners will get Certificates of Award.
But only the first prize winner will be awarded the coveted Peter’s Prize medallion, and the commission to be The Peter Solis Nery Foundation Ambassador for Literature./PN
