The Confluence Writing Contest is part of Confluence: A Celebration of Reading and Writing in Moab. The purpose of our contest is to encourage, support and promote authors in a style that would evoke the vivid ideas and emotions produced when you read work by Edward Abbey.

We are not looking for Ed Abbey mimics but rather an author who evokes the spirit and emotion that Edward Abbey was famous for - a story, fiction or non-fiction, that creates a desire to get off the couch and get outside - an article that brings the author's place, its smells and the feeling of being there, right to the reader and motivates him or her to do something, to get going.

All submissions and judging will take place on line. Submissions must be less than 5,000 words, and one contest winner will receive $250. In addition to the monetary award, the winner will receive the opportunity to be published on the Mountain Gazette website or magazine. This award will be in the sole discretion of Mountain Gazette.

By entering the contest the writers agree to abide by these rules:

Original Work

The work must be original work, never before published in any magazine, newspaper, book, or online. Works must be from one author, although assistance or editorial work from third parties is permitted. Entries can only be submitted be online and must include the Entry Form and Fee.

Deadlines

Works must be uploaded to the site no later than 5:00 PM, September 15, 2008. Any work received after that time and date will not be judged. We encourage authors to enter their work prior to the deadline so the judges have ample time to review the work.

Limits

An author may submit a maximum of two (2) works. Each work must include a separate Entry Form and Fee.

Disputes

In the event of any dispute the judge's decisions will be final. No judging sheets, scores or reports will be available and will be confidential and destroyed after the contest is over.

Judging Decisions

Decisions made by the judging panel and the Contest Governing Committee will be final.

Copyright

The copyright for the work must be owned by the author. By submitting the work for the contest, the author licenses to the Confluence Writing Contest the right to use the work in any manner the Confluence Writing Contest wishes to promote the work, the Confluence event, or the writing contest, or as necessary. If the work is selected the author agrees to license for no fee the selected work to the Mountain Gazette.

Entry Fee

Each work must be accompanied by an entry fee of $15.00.

Entry Form

To enter the contest, the author must complete the Entry Form, pay the Entry fee and upload their work to the contest website.

All Judges' scores are final and confidential.