The competition provides a safe and supportive environment
for both emerging and established writers to share their stories. Other than a
set length of 750 words and a theme "A Kiwi Romance", there are no
restrictions; entries might express the triumph and joy of alternate sexuality,
or the pain and difficulty. They might be funny or sad, sweet or bitter,
outrageous or introspective.
Participation is the most valued aspect of Alternative
Bindings. It is a competition, however, and we are blessed to be part of a kind
and generous community — so the prize is fabulous!
With the support of The Wallace Foundation, GABA Trust and
Gaynz.com, we are awarding $600 cash and
publication on Gaynz.com for the winning story and $300 cash for the runner up.
Our judges are well known in queer literary circles and they
take their duties very seriously. They
are looking for outstanding sparks of creative brilliance. And, they say,
thoroughly looking forward to the experience.
Their decision is final.
If the Alternative Bindings Short Story Competition
encourages us to keep telling our unique stories the best way we can, it will
have achieved its aim.
The theme for 2016 is " A Kiwi Romance". You may
interpret it in any way you choose, just so long as it is obvious to the judges.
2016 COMPETITION RULES
1. Stories must be
your own work, and not previously published.
2. Stories must be original fiction.
3. All stories should have relevance to the broader New
Zealand LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer)
community.
4. All stories must
relate to the theme in some way.
5. Stories must be
750 words or less. Please include your word count at the end of your story.
7. All stories must
be received by midnight on 1 December 2015.
Late entries will not be accepted.
8. Please include
your full name, email address and contact phone number in your submission
email.
9. Your name must not appear in headers or footers or
anywhere in your story – our judges read all stories in blissful ignorance of
the writer’s identity.
10. Please give your work a name that is not the same as the
theme. This helps us identify each piece.
11. If you submit a
story to the competition, you are also giving us permission to publish it,
which may be online or in a printed publication.
12. You may submit
more than one story.
13. We accept stories
from writers based in New Zealand only.
14. The Winner will
be invited to read their work at our winner’s event.
