Entries in Chicon 7’s two writing contests – one that challenges writers to finish GoH Mike Resnick’s story fragment, and the other for students — will be accepted through May 15, 2012.

Chicon 7 Author Guest of Honor Mike Resnick has written the first 3,000 words of a short story and contestants are invited to write the rest, using no more than an additional 4,500 words. Submissions should be sent to [email protected].

The five best entries will be chosen by judges Catherine Asaro, Linda J. Dunn, and Rich Horton, and Mike Resnick will pick the winner. The winning entry will be published (along with Mike’s fragment) in the Chicon 7 Souvenir Book, and receive a collection of Mike Resnick books from Pyr SF/Fantasy.

Full details of the Resnick short story competition are on the Chicon 7 website at https://chicon.org/resnick-contest.php.

The second competition is targeted at students from elementary school through to 12th grade and aims to stimulate interest in science and science fiction. The contest is for the best short story with a science fiction or fantasy theme, the best science fiction or fantasy artwork, and the best science essay. Entries should be mailed to Student Science Fiction and Fantasy Contest, PO Box 13, Skokie, IL 60076. USA. Winners will be announced at a special ceremony honoring the contestants at Chicon 7 on Saturday, September 1, 2012.

All contestants in the student competition will receive a certificate for participating. Semi-finalists will be invited to attend Chicon 7 for Saturday, September 1, 2012. Finalists will also receive a commemorative T-shirt and a $10 gift certificate from a major book store. The winners will be invited to attend all five days of Chicon 7 and will receive a commemorative T-shirt and a $50 gift certificate from a major book store.

Full details of the student competition are on the Chicon 7 website at https://chicon.org/student-contest.php.

The full press release follows the jump.

PRESS RELEASE #19

Chicon 7 Promotes Science Fiction through Short Story and Student Writing Competitions

Chicon 7, the 70th World Science Fiction Convention,
Chicago, IL – August 30 to September 3, 2012

[email protected]
www.chicon.org

Postal queries to: Chicon 7, P.O. Box 13, Skokie, IL 60076

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Chicago, Illinois, USA – Chicon 7, the 70th World Science Fiction Convention (“Worldcon”), is pleased to announce that we have extended the entry deadline for our two writing contests to May 15, 2012. We encourage those who are interested to apply.

The first competition recognizes Chicon 7’s Author Guest of Honor Mike Resnick by providing the first 3,000 words of a new Resnick short story. Contestants are invited to submit a fitting conclusion in no more than an additional 4,500 words. Submissions should be sent to [email protected]. A shortlist of the five best entries will be selected by a judging panel comprising Catherine Asaro, Linda J. Dunn, and Rich Horton, with Mike Resnick himself choosing the final winner. The winning entry will be published (along with Mike’s fragment) in the Chicon 7 Souvenir Book provided to all members of Chicon 7. The winner will also receive a collection of Mike Resnick books from Pyr SF/Fantasy.

Full details of the Resnick short story competition are on the Chicon 7 website at https://chicon.org/resnick-contest.php.

The second competition is targeted at students from elementary school through to 12th grade and aims to stimulate interest in science and science fiction. The contest is for the best short story with a science fiction or fantasy theme, the best science fiction or fantasy artwork, and the best science essay. Entries should be mailed to Student Science Fiction and Fantasy Contest, PO Box 13, Skokie, IL 60076. USA. Winners will be announced at a special ceremony honoring the contestants at Chicon 7 on Saturday, September 1, 2012.

All contestants in the student competition will receive a certificate for participating. Semi-finalists will be invited to attend Chicon 7 for Saturday, September 1, 2012. Finalists will also receive a commemorative T-shirt and a $10 gift certificate from a major book store. The winners will be invited to attend all five days of Chicon 7 and will receive a commemorative T-shirt and a $50 gift certificate from a major book store.

Full details of the student competition are on the Chicon 7 website at https://chicon.org/student-contest.php.

ENDS

Chicon 7 is the 2012 World Science Fiction Convention (“Worldcon”). The first Worldcon occurred in New York City in 1939 and Worldcons have been held annually since then except for 1942-45 when there was no event due to World War II. Chicon 7’s Guests of Honor are five-time Hugo winning author Mike Resnick, artist Rowena Morrill, art agent and collector Jane Frank, science fiction fan and former Worldcon chair Peggy Rae Sapienza, and astronaut Story Musgrave. Chicon 7’s Toastmaster is John Scalzi.

For more details about the convention or to purchase memberships, visit www.chicon.org. Send press questions, or requests to be removed from the Chicon 7 press release mailing list, to [email protected]. Send general queries to [email protected]. “World Science Fiction Society,” “WSFS,” “World Science Fiction Convention,” “Worldcon,” “NASFiC,” “Hugo Award,” and the distinctive design of the Hugo Award Rocket are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.