活動簡介 (Event Introduction)

Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest 2025 由美國馬薩諸塞州西部的Winning Writers主辦，旨在徵集全球各年齡層的參賽者。參賽者可提交短篇小說或散文，無論是已發表或未發表的作品，作品主題不限，長度不得超過6,000字。
The Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest 2025, organized by Winning Writers based in Western Massachusetts, USA, invites participants of all ages worldwide. Entrants can submit short stories or essays (published or unpublished) on any theme, up to 6,000 words.

活動主題 (Event Theme)

本次比賽主題不限，參賽者可以提交任何形式的短篇小說或散文，表達自由的創意。
The theme for this competition is open, allowing participants to submit any form of short fiction or essay, with freedom of expression.

參賽資格 (Eligibility)

此比賽對所有年齡層的參賽者開放，但來自以下國家的居民不得參賽：敘利亞、伊朗、北韓、克里米亞、俄羅斯和白俄羅斯（由於美國政府的限制）。
The contest is open to participants of all ages, with the exception of residents of the following countries: Syria, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, and Belarus (due to US government restrictions).

活動時程 (Event Schedule)

報名時間 (Registration Period):
2024年10月15日 至 2025年5月1日。
Registration is open from October 15, 2024, to May 1, 2025.

結果公佈時間 (Results Announcement):
比賽結果將於2025年10月15日公佈。
The results will be announced on October 15, 2025.

報名方式 (Registration Method)

參賽者需通過Submittable平台提交作品，每位參賽者可提交多篇作品。每篇作品需支付報名費25美元，作品可以是已發表或未發表的。
Participants must submit their entries via Submittable. Multiple entries per person are allowed. An entry fee of $25 per submission applies. Entries may be published or unpublished.

評審規範 (Judging Guidelines)

比賽的最終評審由Mina Manchester擔任，並由Sarah Halper協助。所有參賽作品將根據創意、表達、文學價值和敘事結構等方面進行評估。
The final judging will be conducted by Mina Manchester, assisted by Sarah Halper. All submissions will be evaluated based on creativity, expression, literary value, and narrative structure.

評分標準 (Judging Criteria)

• 創意與文學價值 (Creativity & Literary Merit): 主要評估作品的創新性、故事情節、人物塑造等。
• 表達與敘事結構 (Expression & Narrative Structure): 評估語言表達、文章結構的流暢性及其對讀者的吸引力。
  *Judging criteria include:
• Creativity & Literary Merit: Evaluating the originality of the work, plot, and character development.
• Expression & Narrative Structure: Assessing the language, flow, and reader engagement.*

活動獎勳 (Awards and Prizes)

• 最佳故事獎 (Best Story Prize): 獲獎者將獲得3,500美元獎金。
  Best Story: The winner will receive a $3,500 prize.
• 最佳散文獎 (Best Essay Prize): 獲獎者將獲得3,500美元獎金。
  Best Essay: The winner will receive a $3,500 prize.
• 榮譽獎 (Honorable Mentions): 十位榮譽獲獎者每人將獲得500美元獎金。
  Honorable Mentions: Ten honorable mentions will each receive a $500 prize.
• 額外獎勳 (Additional Prizes): 最優前兩名將獲得來自合辦單位Duotrope的兩年免費禮品證書（價值100美元）。
  Top two winners will receive two-year gift certificates worth $100 from Duotrope, the co-sponsor.

相關單位 (Organizing Entities)

• 主辦單位 (Organizer): Winning Writers
• 協辦單位 (Co-sponsor): Duotrope
  Organizer: Winning Writers
  Co-sponsor: Duotrope

活動聯絡資訊 (Contact Information)

• 聯絡人 (Contact Person): Mina Manchester