.: Hi!

Hello and thanks again for you interest in the Gryphcon Writing Contests. Below you will find information detailing the rules and submission procedures for the full contests that will be occurring. Also you will find a downloadable PDF of the following rules and (later on) cover forms for your entries at the bottom of the page.

If you have any questions or concerns about your entry please send an email to gryphcon.writing@gmail.com with the subject heading Question about Contest. I will get back to you ASAP. Best of luck to everyone!

.: Submission Procedure

All entries are to be submitted in electronic, and preferably hard copy; a hard copy will ensure you a place in the competition (excluding rule violations) and will eliminate the chances that your submission might get lost in cyberspace. 
       
Electronic submissions are to be sent to gryphcon.writing@gmail.com , with the subject line SS_[your name here] for Short Story entries or CD_[your name here] for Character descriptions, if you are submitting to both competitions please send a separate email for each .

Please attach your entry as a .zip or .rar file (same names as the subject of your email) containing the cover letter (.pdf) and your entry as a .doc or .pdf file. You do not need to actually write anything in the email! Promises of cyber cookies or cyber nookie, while commendable attempts at bribery, will NOT help your submission.  

Hard copy submissions, which once again I vastly prefer, can be delivered to the Games Club office, address below, in person or snail mailed to: 

Games Club c\o
Central Student Association
Room 274, University Centre
University of Guelph
Guelph , Ontario
N1G 2W1

.: Initial contests

1. Each contestant is only allowed one submission per category ; please don't try to submit more than once, it really isn't fair to 
         anyone. Also, since I have my own work to do, rather than read them both and decide which to enter, I will ignore them both .     
2. Remember to fill out and attach the cover sheet provided in the .pdf files below; this is very important as I will not accept entries
         that do not have a cover sheet or have a cover sheet that contains information I have not requested.    
3. All entries are to be double spaced, size 12, Times New Roman font, with 1.25" margins (Word default). Please understand
         that I am volunteering to do this and I don't have time to read through 20 pages of your "Ode to Blue". If your entry doesn't fall into
         this range by under 100 words, I will send you an email and give you a chance to resubmit it; otherwise the entry won't be
         accepted.      
4. All stories must be submitted, or resubmitted, in hard copy or by email by 24:00 on March 05, 2007 to be included in the
         competition    
5. All stories must not be rated any higher than R or M !!! That means no graphic violence and no explicit sexual acts; that said you
        are free to mention them, heck, even fade to black, but DO NOT write and/or illustrate them . Inclusion of such content will get
        you disqualified and mocked.  Do not play free and loose with this rule, as I will delete your entry if I feel you are infringing upon my
        comfort zone.
5.2   If you are unsure what these ratings entail please visit the guides provided at http://www.fictionratings.com or
http://www.filmratings.com
6. Your story should use proper grammar and spelling unless it is an important part of your character's personality. Incorrect and
          inappropriate grammar and spelling will count against your ranking in the contest.     
7. We are allowing entries for both contests that are set in pre-existing universes (fanfic), as well as original universes for the short
          story competition. However, there are two restrictions on unoriginal fiction.
7.2 I will not do research to better understand your characters or story. Your story must therefore be standalone or from a
           universe that I am familiar with. If you want to know whether I know a specific 'verse, ask and ye shall receive feedback,
           but as long as your story is good and understandable, I wouldn't be too worried.
7.3 Do not write your stories in worlds where the original author has threatened to burn fanfiction writers at the stake. 
           Examples of this are the 'verses of Robin Hobb and Anne McCaffrey. We need to respect their wishes in this matter and if
           you get caught, you get disqualified. So, if you decide to use this opportunity to try out a new fandom, check the author's
           opinions first, since I would prefer not to.       
8. Winners will be announced and their entries posted on the website some time during the week before the conference. Prizes will
          be available to be picked up during the Con weekend. 
9. Please note that by entering this contest you are giving the University of Guelph Games Club, and Gryphcon your soul . Well not
          really, but you are giving us permission to post the stories you've submitted on the Gryphcon Website and to have them on display
         at the Convention.

.: Contest Specific Rules

.: Short Story

.: Character Design

1. Remember to follow the general rules under Submission Rules
2. All entries must be between 500 and 1000 words , and follow the formatting instructions in the Submission Rules (Rule 3)
3. Remember to write your story based upon one of the two character themes below           
3.2 A tough-as-nails female pirate captain, with a strong sense of honour 
3.3 A softly spoken man who just happens to carry a large weapon    
4. Your entry should include character description and backstory, you will be judged mostly upon originality         
5. Feel free to use any system you'd like, but ensure that the story is standalone


Here are all the rules and submission procedures in .pdf

Cover letter forms will be available shortly, please check the main page for updates!

Cover Letter - Character Description
Cover Letter - Short Story