Rules of the San Diego Mensa Creative uRGe Awards Contest

Eligibility: Contests are open to current members of American Mensa. Membership must be current as of the date the entry is received and the date the awards are announced. San Diego Mensa officers and members of the board are eligible to enter contests, provided they do not participate in the judging of that contest. Any other person acting in the capacity of judge is also prohibited from entering contest. Entries received in prior years are not eligible.

Rights: All submissions remain the property of the writer, performer, music writer, videographer, and photographer.

Unpublished Literary Works: All unpublished entries must be typed or printed single-sided on 8½ x 11” paper in 12 point font. Essays, short stories, novels, and memoirs must be double-spaced. Poetry does not have to be double-spaced. If entries are to be submitted in an electronic format, all entries must be submitted in a word .doc format.

Number of Copies: Writers must submit three copies of each book or manuscript unless submitted electronically. All Published Book entries must be submitted in hard copy. To be notified of receipt of entry, include a self-addressed, stamped postcard with your submission.

Electronic Submissions: All entries, except for Published Books, may be submitted electronically. All entries must be sent to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Entries must include the Entry Form and proof of payment of Entry Fee.  If the entry is submitted electronically, entry forms may be mailed to:  San Diego Mensa, PO Box 710783, San Diego CA  92171, or scanned and e-mailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or faxed to (858) 592-9958.

Entry Form: A completed, signed, and dated entry form must accompany each entry.

Entry Fee: Fees are nonrefundable. The fees per entry are:

Category Cost

Make checks payable to: San Diego Mensa.

Entry fees may be also paid via paypal to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Mail Entries To:

San Diego Mensa
P.O. Box 710783
San Diego, CA 92171

Notification: Finalists in each category will be notified in advance of the awards ceremony, which will be held May 27^th, 2011 at the San Diego Mensa Regional Gathering. All category winners and finalists will be honored at the awards ceremony. Winners and finalists will be promoted on the San Diego Mensa web site: www.sandiegomensa.org.

Published Book Contest

Entrants may only submit books that were first published in 2010/2011 and/or bear a 2010/2011 copyright. More than one title by the same author may be submitted, but each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form and entry fee. Ghostwritten books are eligible, if the ghostwriter is disclosed. Contest is limited to first editions of books and to later editions that include at least 25% new material.

Final determination of subcategories will be made by the contest chairs after all entries have been received. The contest chairs reserve the right to combine subcategories when too few entries have been submitted in a particular category.

Entry Fee: $25. Deadline: March 1, 2011.

Unpublished Novel Contest

Entrants may not have published a novel previously, and the work may not be ghostwritten. All entrants shall submit three copies of the first 30 pages of a completed manuscript plus three copies of a one-page synopsis of the entire work. The entrant’s name shall appear only on the title page and nowhere else on the rest of the manuscript.

Up to five finalists will be selected. Each finalist will be asked to send three copies of the complete manuscript within one week of notification. One winner and two finalists will be honored at the Creative uRGe awards ceremony.

Entry Fee: $15, Deadline: March 1, 2011.

Unpublished Memoir Contest

Entrants may not have published a memoir previously, and the work may not be ghostwritten.

All entrants shall submit three copies of the first 30 pages of a completed manuscript plus three copies of a one-page synopsis of the entire work. The entrant’s name shall appear only on the title page and nowhere else on the rest of the manuscript. To be notified of receipt of entry, please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard with your submission.

Up to five finalists will be selected. Each finalist will be asked to send three copies of the complete manuscript within one week of notification. One winner and two finalists will be honored at the Creative uRGe awards ceremony.

Entry Fee: $15, Deadline: March 1, 2011.

Unpublished Poetry Chapbook Contest

Entrants may not have had a book of poems published. A chapbook is a ten-page, 12-point font, collection of poems by one writer.

All entrants shall submit three copies of their manuscript. The writer’s name should not appear anywhere on the work except on the cover page. A cover page including the title of the work, the writer’s name, address, phone number, and email address (if available) should accompany each submitted manuscript.

More than one chapbook by the same author may be submitted, but each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form and submission fee.

Entry Fee: $10. Deadline: April 16, 2011.

Unpublished Short Story Contest

Manuscripts submitted to the Short Story Contest may be up to 7,500 words and must be original and unpublished. The title of the work should appear in the top corner of each page and the pages should be numbered.

All entrants shall submit three copies of their manuscript. The writer’s name should not appear anywhere on the work except on the cover page. A cover page including the title of the work, the word count, the writer’s name, address, phone number, and email address (if available) should accompany each submitted manuscript.

Writers may submit more than one story, but each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form and submission fee.

Entry Fee: $10. Deadline: April 16, 2011.

Essay Contest

Essays submitted to the Essay Contest may be up to 500 words and must be original and unpublished. The title of the work should appear in the top corner of each page and the pages should be numbered.

All entrants shall submit three copies of their manuscript. The writer’s name should not appear anywhere on the work except on the cover page. A cover page including the title of the work, the word count, the writer’s name, address, phone number, and email address (if available) should accompany each submitted manuscript.

Writers may submit more than one essay, but each entry must be accompanied by a separate entry form and submission fee.

Entry Fee: $10. Deadline: April 16, 2011.

Up to 5 color photos may be submitted per entry. Photos must be original work of the submitting photographer. Photos may be edited, but the original photo must be the original work of the submitting photographer as well as the editing. Your submission will be judged on all photos submitted with one entry form. Photos may be submitted electronically.

Entry Fee: $10. Deadline: April 16, 2011.

Black and White Photo Contest

Up to 5 black and white photos may be submitted per entry. Photos must be original work of the submitting photographer. Photos may be edited, but the original photo must be the original work of the submitting photographer as well as the editing. Your submission will be judged on all photos submitted with one entry form. Photos may be submitted electronically.

Entry Fee: $10. Deadline: April 16, 2011.

Short Film/Homemade Video

Videotaping and editing must be the original work of the submitting videographer. Short Films and Videos may be up to 12 minutes long. Videos may be submitted electronically.

Entry Fee: $10. Deadline: April 16, 2011.

Songwriter

Songs must be performed. Performance may be by someone other than the songwriter making the entry. Songs may be no longer than 5 minutes. Entries will be accepted as CD’s, or electronically by .wav files or .mp3 files.

Entry Fee: $10. Deadline: April 16, 2011.

Musical Performer

Songs may be written by someone other than the Performer making the entry. Performances may entail singing or playing of musical instruments. Performances may be no longer than 5 minutes. Entries will be accepted as CD’s, or electronically by .wav files or .mp3 files.

Entry Fee: $10. Deadline: April 16, 2011.

Songwriter/Performer

Songs must be performed and the performance must be by the songwriter making the entry. Songs may be no longer than 5 minutes. Entries will be accepted as CD’s, or electronically by .wav files or .mp3 files.

Entry Fee: $10. Deadline: April 16, 2011.

Awards

A trophy will be awarded to all First place winners in each contest.

Cash awards may be provided determined by the number of entrants.

Special Awards will be provided to entrants in the Young Adult Category (13-18), and the Children’s Category (12 and under).

Entry Checklist:

• Completed entry form for each work submitted.
• Entry fee for each work submitted.
• Three copies of each work submitted, if submitted physically.

Mail entries in all categories to:

San Diego Mensa
P.O. Box 710783
San Diego, CA 92171

Or e-mail to:

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