FOR THE longest time, I have resisted the Peter’s Prize category for Short Story.
I have skirmished around it, creating contests for Flash Fiction, Children’s Story, and genre stories like Erotic Fiction, Horror Story, Saddest Story.
I just didn’t want to stand in direct competition to the Palanca Awards Hiligaynon Short Story competition.
My position was, if it’s good enough for the Peter’s Prize, it’s good enough for the Palanca.
People can just directly submit to the Palanca contest instead.
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But lately, people have been asking why I continue to resist?
Their argument is that not everybody is ready for the Palanca.
They want to submit, and hopefully win, at the Peter’s Prize.
That Peter’s Prize is a good practice ground, at the very least.
(And I agree with that because that was my original vision, too.
And I have seen it happen that some people who started as Peter’s Prize winners went on to win the Palanca in a few years.)
So, finally, I said yes.
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This year, starting May 1, we will receive entries for the 2020 Peter’s Prize Short Story.
Deadline is set on May 31.
We will only accept online submissions.
You can submit as many entries as you want for more chances of winning.
The email to use is: 500tinaga@gmail.com
But note carefully: I will automatically disqualify entries sent before May 1.
I normally acknowledge receipt of entries within 24 hours, but if you haven’t heard from me (or my secretary) after 36 hours, send your entries again.
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I don’t want you to clog my emails, and crash my address.
I really hate that.
So I will probably disqualify entries submitted more than once.
Here’s the strict procedure: Submit. Wait for my reply of acknowledgment. And wait for 36 hours before you try to send your entry again. The key word is Wait!
You think this is too much?
Some contests do not even acknowledge receipt of entries.
(Because paranoid participants submit them multiple times!)
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Oh, and that resubmission because you misspelled a word, or punctuated it wrong?
Nah. It will not be considered.
The point is, you are given all the time in the world to write your stories flawlessly before you submit them in the competition.
All the time in the world: deadline May 31.
Please dignify this contest by sending only polished, and perfect stories.
Because to maintain our high standards, I will not tolerate sloppiness.
I mean, after eight years in the business, Peter’s Prize can afford the respect that it demands.
And rightly so.
Because we treat everyone right.
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This short story contest is more than just flash stories.
This time around, the word count should be between 5,000 to 7,500.
If you can write stories 10 to 25 pages long, I still would encourage you to submit to the Palanca instead.
They have a bigger cash prize!
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The language of your entry should be Hiligaynon, of course.
After all, the name of my foundation, which is the sponsor of the Peter’s Prize, is The Peter Solis Nery Foundation for Hiligaynon Literature and the Arts, Inc.
You can sprinkle it with foreign, and other languages, but it has to be at least 80% Hiligaynon.
I don’t care if your Hiligaynon is the brand from Carles, or Tigbauan, or South Cotabato, or Riyadh.
One of your previous contests was won by someone from Saudi Arabia!
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And I don’t understand about this Hiligaynon “not deep enough”.
Deep enough for what?
Diction should always serve the goal and the shape of the story!
No story should win because it is written in florid language only five people understand.
A story wins because it excites a cross section of the population.
And for that reason, our board of judges comes from all walks of life.
We have seen jurors who are chefs, filmmakers, and writing domestic helpers in Hong Kong sitting alongside teachers, writers, and visual artists.
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This column continues with more contest rules on Wednesday./PN
