*

     Literacy and art have been used for decades to inspire our imagination and provide an outlet to speak inner feelings.  Because we are able to express our feelings through many forms of art media, our connection to a personal creation is as important as one created for a masterpiece.  When we see our creation become a masterpiece (a published story or poem), we will begin to appreciate our own growth and accomplishments. 

*

     It is our mission to create a series of books to help individuals, children and families find enlightenment through stories and poetry written and illustrated by non-publicized authors and illustrators.  It is our goal to work with educational programs and help establish a wealth of knowledge that can be used to help inspire positive thoughts and feelings in our readers.

• Writing A Rainbow - Write a story about a rainbow.  Any sort, maybe not even the one most would think about.  The moral of the story should be about encouragement and inspiration.
• Moving To Paradise - Write a story about a choice that someone has to make to move his or her family to another place.  The main character in the story has to convince his or her family they are moving to Paradise.
• This Sentence Starts The Story - Write a story that starts with the sentence “Something was wrong.”  There is no limit about the main character or other characters in the book.
• When I Woke Up - Write a story about a main character waking up late and finding that no one else is in the house.  Build a mystery about where the main character thinks his or her family members are.  End the story with there being a lesson learned.
• Forwards Or Backwards - Write a story about a change that takes place in the main character’s life.  Show how making certain decisions affect the outcome.  Build suspense and wait until the end to reveal the outcome.   
• A Long Walk Home - Write a story about being in the middle of no where after dark and the vehicle breaks down.  Build suspense around the main character’s fear of the unknown and the encounters that take place before arriving home.  End the story with there being a lesson learned.

*

 *

     Written content must be mailed, faxed or uploaded using Microsoft Word format only.  Illustrations must be submitted on 8 ½ x 11 ½ paper only.  Any type of art media is accepted.  Please do not fold your illustrations if mailing.  If your illustrations are uploaded to our email, please submit each illustration individually.  Scanned copies must be crisp and clear.  If you are submitting your story already applied to your illustrations, please upload each page separately.  Entries will not be viewed or entered into the competition until the entrance fee has been paid.

*

     All submissions will be read and reviewed for eligibility guidelines.  Submissions must fit the subject matter in the selected topic.  Stories or poems submitted with illustrations will be placed in a separate category and will be given priority for review, but are not guaranteed a better chance in winning.  Stories or poems submitted without illustrations will be illustrated free to the author.  Heavenly Heart NPO will make every effort to match the story content with the right illustrator.  A panel of judges will review all entries that meet our guidelines and select the top two stories and poems from each category.  Categories are as follows:

• 2'd - 3'rd Grade
• 4'th - 5'th Grade
• 6'th - 8'th Grade
• High School
• Adult

*     The judges' final selections will be featured on our web site for public review.  Each month, the winners of the short story and poetry competition will be selected by public vote only.  The top ten short stories with the highest number of votes will become published books.  The top ten poems will become part of our book of collective poetry.  It is our goal to publish ten new books each month and one book of collective poetry each year.  Books will be available for public sale and authors will earn 10% and illustrators 5% royalty on each book sold!  The poem with the highest number of votes will receive a $100 visa gift card.  All decisions are final and entrance fees are non-refundable.  Submission materials will not be returned!  In the event that there are not enough entries to carry out the monthly program, Heavenly Heart NPO reserves the right to hold those entries until the next month.  A notice will be posted on the web site.

*

Poetry Selections - All Age Categories Are The Same Fee