Overture Awards Scholarship Competition

Creative Writing Criteria

CATEGORIES:  Fiction, Creative Non-fiction, Poetry, Play and Screenplay

1. All criteria set forth in these pages apply to the Regional, Semi-Final and Final Competitions, unless otherwise noted.

2. Competitors will primarily be judged on, but not limited to, the following:

·         Overall strength of submission

·         Creativity and artistry

·         Form, structure, plot

·         Grammar, spelling

·         Use of language

3. The following requirements, if not met, can result in a student having points deducted from his or her submission or, in some cases, disqualification.  Please read carefully.

·         5-20 PAGES OF WORK IS REQUIRED.  If submitting a section of a longer piece, include a one page synopsis.

·         Submissions MUST be cleanly typed, single-sided, on 8 ½” x 11” sheets of paper.

·         Pages MUST be numbered.

·         Students MUST include a cover sheet with name, school and category of submission (poetry, fiction, etc.).

·         Submit four (4) copies of the manuscript.  Three should be stapled, the other clipped together.

·         Submissions will NOT be returned.

4. Submissions MUST accompany the application form and be included in the same packet with your school’s other entries.  No late or separate submissions will be accepted.

5. STUDENTS MAY SUBMIT WORK IN ONLY ONE CATEGORY.

·         FICTION:  Submit one short story or a novel excerpt (with one page synopsis)

·         CREATIVE NON-FICTION: Essay may not be a research paper.  It may be opinion/editorial, biography, in-depth/feature story or personal essay

·         PLAYS/SCREENPLAYS: Monologue, one act or excerpt (with one page synopsis)

·         POETRY: Submit 5-10 poems.

6. Semi-Finalists and Finalists will be notified by mail of their advancement in the Competition.  No further action is required, as the CAA will forward their submissions on to the Semi-Final judges.  Results will also appear on our website, www.CincinnatiArts.ORG/overture_awards.

7. Finalists must attend the Finals Competition rehearsal (refer to timeline), and be prepared to read an artist’s statement or a piece of writing summarizing their work and vision.  Finalists must also attend the Finals Competition/Awards Ceremony in order to be eligible for a scholarship.