Accepting manuscripts from January 1, 2026 through April 30, 2026!
Watch This First!
Submission Requirements:
- Entries must be submitted and fees collected any time after 12:00:00 AM PST January 1, 2026 and before 11:59:59 PM PST on April 30, 2026.
- Authors can create as many entries as desired, though each will require a separate fee and entry email with appropriate attachments and information.
- Only one entry will be allowed into the finalist round from the same author per year.
- Remember: .doc or .docx or .pdf files ONLY.
- Each entry must be accompanied by the $75 fee. Except as otherwise provided in the rules, this fee is non-refundable.
FIRST: PREPARE YOUR MANUSCRIPT
1. Remove all instances of your author’s name or pen name, phone number and email address from any visible text from anywhere within the document. Check those headers and footers! The author(s)’ name(s) or other information, including copyright information may be included in the file properties if you feel it is necessary, as long as it is not visible upon opening the document.
2. Remove all front and back matter. Manuscripts should be free of material that is not directly in support of the story being told. Maps and timelines (that pertain to a scene or scenes within the novel) and dramatis personae (character listings) will be accepted. Using asterisks or other characters to mark breaks in the narrative is acceptable.
Please also remove:
- photos, images, drawings, graphics, diagrams, awards listing and reviews.
- table of contents
- synopses (synopsis)
- copyright page (you may include a copyright number in the metadata/file properties info of the submitted entry manuscript if you desire)
- acknowledgements, dedications
- any information or comments about the author
- author’s and editor’s notes, thank-yous
- sources, resources, bibliographies, indexes and glossaries artwork, research articles, etc.
3. Format your manuscript for judging:
- acceptable electronic document format: .doc, .docx or .pdf only
- page size: 8.5 inches by 11 inches
- margins: 1″ on all sides (left, right, top and bottom)
- line spacing: single space
- justification: left justified (other justification within text is accepted) with ragged right edge.
- page numbers: centered on bottom
- font: Times New Roman 12 pt
- remove drop capital letters
- first line paragraph indent: .5 inches
- paragraph spacing: remove all lines before and after paragraphs of same style
SECOND: PAYMENT OF FEE:
• Payment must be received at the time of manuscript submission, or the entry may be disqualified.
• If you have payment questions, please contact the AWC Director via email.
TO MAKE YOUR PAYMENT of the entry fee ($75.00 US) ,completing the following steps:
- Choose your payment type below. PayPal, Venmo or click Check Out to pay by credit card.
2.You will be taken to the payment site complete the payment. You may have to create a paypal or venmo account if you choose either of those methods. If you choose to pay with PayPal, and your paypal account has no balance, you may be asked to pay by credit card through PayPal.
3. Once complete, you should see a screen like the example below. TAKE A SCREEN SHOT of this receipt (sample below) and attach it to the email you will create in the next step.
THIRD: CREATE AN EMAIL to: submissionsawc@gmail.com
Create an email to submissionsawc@gmail.com In the text of the email, include:
- Author(s)’s name(s)
- Your manuscript title.
- The name of the person who’s PayPal account you used (if not your own). Why? Many entrants use some account other than their own, and it creates verification issues.
- A screenshot of the payment receipt (as attachment or in the body of the email). see sample example below.
- Author’s contact phone number
- Author’s contact email address
- Now attach your manuscript to the email and send to submissionsawc@gmail.com
Remember: .doc or .docx or pdf files ONLY.
IF YOU SUBMIT A PDF of your manuscript, PLEASE REDUCE the file’s DPI in your ‘save’ process to 72 dpi! If the file is topo big – it may NOT come through to us.
We will send you a verification email so you know you’re all set! It could take a few days so sit tight!
You are finished! That was hard, but not as difficult as creating your novel!
Thanks for entering! Good luck!