Writing Contest Seeks Stories, Poetry About Animals

Service-dog-in-training "Arlington" poses with members of
Iowa National Guard funeral honors team. PHOTO: Paws & Effect

The Red Bull Rising blog is a proud supporter of a nationwide arts and writing contest that is seeking short fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and art by young people, military service members and veterans, and the general public. The theme is human-animal bonds and relationships. Deadline is Jan. 5, 2015. There is a monetary award of $100 in each category/sub-category.

The contest is underwritten by Central Iowa non-profit Paws & Effect, and will be the centerpiece of  the organization's annual "One Heart, Four Paws" Valentine's Day celebration of the connections among humans and animals.

Established in 2006, the Des Moines, Iowa-based non-profit is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that raises, trains, and places service dogs with military veterans and children diagnosed with medical needs. The organization also registers therapy animals through Pet Partners, and hosts dog-agility events.

Editors are seeking previously unpublished flash-fiction, non-fiction, and poetry on the themes illustrating human-animal connections.

Winners selected in each of the following categories:

• Youth (Ages 6-12)

• Open—Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry

• Military service member/veteran—Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry

Winners in each category/subcategory will receive:

• Recognition at the Feb. 13, 2015 "One Heart, Four Paws" gala event.

• A monetary award of $100.

• Publication of their work(s) in a commemorative broadsheet, chapbook, or other physical object, to be distributed at the event.

All submitted works will also be considered for inclusion in a commemorative anthology, to be published later in 2015.

There is no submission fee for the Youth category. Youth submissions should be made via postal mail, using this downloadable form, or on-line here at Submittable.com. All hardcopy entries become the property of Paws & Effect and will not be returned. Send entries to:

"One Heart, Four Paws" Youth Contest
c/o Middle West Press
P.O. Box 31099
Johnston, Iowa 50131-9428

Guidelines for Open and Military/Veteran categories include:

• Submit via on-line tool at here at Submittable.com. There is a $15 submission fee.

• Limit one submission in each category per person.

• Poetry: up to 3 poems (5 pages maximum).

• All prose (including fiction, non-fiction, essay, and memoir): 750-word limit.

• Submissions exceeding the limits will be disqualified.

• Include a biography of 75 words or less with each submission. Past and present members of all branches, services, and nationalities may submit to the Military/Veteran category.

• Winners and contributors will be notified by Feb. 1, 2015.

• This project acquires first North American and anthology rights.

• Judges' decisions are final. Judges also reserve the rights to make additional awards in each category/subcategory, and to decline making awards within one or more categories/subcategories.