To All HOTXSINC Members–A Call for Submission

Knife Challenge

–from Eugenia Parrish

At the HoTSinC meeting on Jan 8, I offered a writing challenge to the members, with this knife as the prize. The parameters are taken from Ellery Queen magazine’s guidelines for a short story, which are between 2500 and 8000 words (approx 10 to 32 pgs depending on the font, word processor, etc.)  For those who weren’t there, the knife is a “hunting knife” of 8.5″ overall length and a blade of 4″.  Surgical steel blade, Paka wood handle and comes with a leather sheath.

I wish I could accept emailed manuscripts, but I’m just not set up for it, so at the next meeting, Feb 12, everyone give me their printed out manuscript with their name on, of course, and the word count.  We will announce our winner at the March meeting at BookPeople.  We are all pros, but I’ll just mention that the font should be pretty standard, like Times New Roman, nothing fancy or hard to read, and the usual size 12 or 14.  Please no pink paper!

The story has to be a crime/mystery that includes the knife in this picture.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be THE weapon, just in the story somewhere.

I look forward to reading some great stuff!