SpaceWesterns.com is running another poetry contest. This time, they’re looking for Space Western Senryu, which is “a Japanese form of short poetry similar to haiku in construction: three lines with 17 or fewer “on” (phonetic sounds, not syllables) in total. However, senryu tend to be about human foibles while haiku tend to be about nature, and senryu are often cynical or darkly humorous while haiku are serious. Senryu do not need to include a kigo, or season word, like haiku.” For a longer definition of the Senryu, read this Wikipedia entry and follow the links). As with their previous poetry contest, the first place prize is $25 ($5 for second, $1 for runners up). In addition, the judges will each be awarding special prizes to their personal favorites.
All submissions must be sent electronically via their contest form (see this page, which also includes all the rules) by 15 July 2008. The winners will be published on 6 August.
The three celebrity judges are:
Alana Joli Abbott, who is the author of two fantasy novels (Into the Reach and Departure), the writer of the web-comic Cowboys and Aliens 2, the co-writer of Steampunk Musha RPG, and a contributor to several gaming resources, including Serenity Adventures. Ms. Abbott lives near New Haven, Connecticut, where she often partakes of the city’s famous thin crust pizza. Her special prize will be a signed copy of Serenity Adventures.
Seamus Kevin Fahey, who was working as a Writer’s Assisant on Battlestar Galactica for two years before being promoted to staff writer. Meanwhile, he helped create a story arc for the Battlestar Galactica: Origins comic series based on the show, and also won the Slamdance teleplay competition for his script Ghost Town. In 2007, after he was promoted to Staff Writer, he wrote his first script for the series’ fourth season, which is also his first professional screen-writing credit. His special prize will be a sigined copy of his BSG teleplay “Faith” or his Battlestar Galactica: Origins comic book.
Mark L. Van Name, who is the former Executive Vice President for Ziff-Davis Media, and the head of a technology assessment company in the Triangle. He’s authored or co-authored over a thousand computer-related articles and one technical book, co-founded the Sycamore Hill Writer’s Workshop, co-edited Intersections: The Sycamore Hill Anthology, and has sold over a dozen SF short stories. His fiction has appeared in such places as Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, The Year’s Best Science Fiction (Ninth Edition), Jim Baen’s Universe, and multiple anthologies. His special prize will be a signed copy of Slanted Jack.
In other SpaceWesterns news, their most recent posts include the latest chapters of A.R. Yngve’s A Man Called Mister Brown, editor N.E. Lilly’s interview with Seamus Kevin Fahey, and Ken McConnell’s “The Renoke.”