Have your say - the Toronto Sun way (en francais)

I was surfing around last night and came aross this contest. Here's a good chance for all of us opinionated sorts. Cash prizes and the chance to be published. (and bragging rights for the remainder of the year)

My word processor is firing up in the background and I'm putting on a fresh pot of coffee. How about you?

Deadline is Friday May 26th, 12 noon.

Now it’s your turn to vent
Enter the Sun's annual column contest

By LINDA WILLIAMSON

Ah, spring! Another year has flown by and I can start looking forward to a whole new glorious crop.

Of course I’m talking about the Sun’s annual column contest — and the wonderful harvest of opinion I know you readers are anxious to produce.

Now in its ninth year, this contest is your chance to vent your opinions — and get published right here in these pages alongside your favourite Sun columnists!

It’s also our chance to see what our readers care most strongly about — and perhaps discover some new columnist talent.

Remember last year’s winner, Brad Phillips? A 30-year member of the Canadian Forces then stationed in Afghanistan, he had never written an opinion piece before, but his powerful account of the Afghan children who had captured his heart caught our judges’ attention. He followed up on that theme in additional columns over the past year, bringing his unique voice and perspective to our pages.

If you’re one of our winners (including in the 18-and-under and 19-30 categories), you’ll have a chance to write additional columns, too, over the next year. Who knows? You could become our readers’ new favourite.

The contest opens today and closes Friday, May 26 at noon. That gives you about five weeks to get writing.

The complete rules follow below, but first, a few guidelines:

Remember, a column is your opinion. You must have a point, and make it clearly. A column is not a short story, a letter or a memoir (although a good personal tale is great if it helps you make your point). We’re looking for bright, lively, interesting, compelling writing — in 600 words or less.

Your best bet is to choose a subject you’re passionate about (it helps if it’s one that won’t soon be outdated) and write from the heart. Don’t forget to send along a separate note telling us a bit about yourself. Have fun, and good luck.

A few changes

Now, the rules. There are a few changes from last year, so please read these all the way through (they’ll be posted at our website, torontosun.com, later this week for future reference):

Entries will be accepted until Friday, May 26 at noon.

Entries are limited to one per person.

The judges are Senior Associate Editor Lorrie Goldstein, Readership Editor Alison Downie, and me.

Prizes and categories: First prize — $500; Second prize — $300; Third prize — $200; Ages 18 and under — $200; Ages 19-30 — $200. (All entrants 30 and under are also eligible for the top prizes.)

Column length: 600 words maximum. (That’s shorter than last year.) Columns longer than 600 words will be disqualified. Note: Your name and title of the column don’t count.

Please include, separately from your column, a note about yourself, including your age, occupation, where you’re from, your interests, etc.

Winners of the 18-and-under and 19-30 categories will be asked for proof of age. Winners under age 18 will need a parent or guardian’s permission to receive prize money.

Sun employees and their immediate families may not enter.

Professional writers are eligible, but must disclose any working relationship with any of the Sun’s direct competitors (i.e., the Star, Globe, National Post, 24 Hours or Metro).

Entries on paper must be neatly printed or typed.

For the first time, you may enter by e-mail, but your entry must be sent as a text file: NO attachments.

Your column must be original, meaning it has never been published anywhere. Plagiarism is not allowed, nor will we publish any column that could cause us legal problems.

Finally, here’s how and where to send your entry:

Mail it to “Sun Column Contest,” c/o Comment Section, Toronto Sun, 333 King St. E., Toronto, M5A 3X5.

Deliver it, addressed the same way, to our front desk at 333 King St. E. during normal business hours.

Fax it — labelled “Sun Column Contest” — to 416-947-3228.

E-mail it to columncontest @tor.sunpub.com (remember, text files only; no attachments accepted).

Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. If we can’t reach you, you can’t win