By Mike Deupree
NSNC Contest Chair
You know that terrible feeling of impending doom, the barely suppressed panic, the sweaty palms, the sleepless nights, when you haven’t yet met a deadline?
Prague Astronomical Clock, animated
Well, for heaven’s sake, why go through that when all you have to do to avoid it is get your entries submitted for the annual writing contest sponsored by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists?
Bloggers and columnists, the entries must be postmarked no later than April 1, which is not all that far away.
There are categories for humor and for serious stuff, for newspapers large and not so large, for blogs that get a whole lot of hits and those that are still building interest. First place in each category is worth $300, second place $200 and third place $100, plus handsome certificates. Honorable mentions get frameable certificates, too.
Is it equivalent to a Pulitzer Prize? Well, no … but two Pulitzer Prize winners — Dave Barry and Joel Brinkley — will be there to shake your hand when your name is called at the NSNC awards banquet in Hartford June 29.
All the details you need to get your entry in shape and in the hands of the judges can be found at this article “2013 Column Contest Is Open.” If you have questions, you can send them to me, the contest chairman, Mike Deupree.
Remember, the deadline is Monday, April 1. A good way to remember it is that it’s April Fool’s Day, so if you don’t have your entry submitted by then, well … just a coincidence?
