Radio mirror (Nov 1936-Apr 1937)

RADIO M IRROR $25,000.00 MANUSCRIPT CONTEST 25 GRAND PRIZES OF $1,000 EACH HERE is real opportunity. You are cordially invited to take part in what we believe is the most spectacularly attractive true story contest that has ever been conducted. Macfadden Publications, Inc. will pay $1,000 each for the twenty-five best true stories submitted on or before Monday, November 30th, 1936, i.e. $25,000 for twenty-five stories. By dividing this great appropriation into twenty-five grand prizes of $1,000 each we hold out to every person taking part an unprecedented opportunity to get a really magnificent sum in cash for a simple account of a dramatic, tragic or soul-stirring episode that he or she has lived or observed. The chances are you know a true story of quality and calibre to put you in line for one of these prizes. If you know such a story it would be a pity indeed not to set it down and send it in. If you win, you win $1,000. And to win $1,000 you do not have to submit the best story, nor the tenth best, nor the twentieth. If yours should be the twenty-fifth best it would still be worth $1,000 to you. The rules on this page are complete and if you observe them carefully your story will be eligible to win one of the magnificent cash prizes. In your own best interests, however, we recommend that you immediately sign the coupon and send it in for a copy of a booklet which explains in detail the simple technique which, in former contests, has proved to be most effective in writing true stories. Look back over your life and select the episode that is most thrilling, exciting or deeply moving, no matter whether it be a story filled with shadow or sunshine, success, failure, tragedy or happiness. Then, after you have thoroughly familiarized yourself with the contest rules, write it simply and honestly and send it in. In setting down your story, do not be afraid to speak plainly. Our magazines are devoted to the portrayal of life as it is actually lived, so most certainly you are justified in describing fully and frankly any situation that has really happened. If your story contains the interest and human quality we seek it will receive preference over tales of less merit, no matter how clearly, beautifully, or skillfully written they may be. Judging upon this basis, to each of the twenty-five persons submitting the twenty-five best true stories will be awarded a grand prize of $1,000. And in addition, every story entered in this contest is eligible for purchase at our liberal regular rates, so, even if your manuscript should fall slightly short of prize winning quality, we will gladly consider it for purchase provided we can use it. As soon as you have finished your manuscript send it in. By mailing it as soon as possible you help to avoid a last minute landslide, assure your manuscript of an early reading and enable us to determine the winners at the earliest possible moment. MACFADDEN PUBLICATIONS. INC. PAY ON ACCEPTANCE OF MATERIAL BEFORE PUBLICATION. SEE RULES. 90 The following letter from Mr. Aron M. Mathieu. business manager of Writer's Digest, was extremely pleasing to receive and we hope will encourage you to take part in this contest. Macfadden Publications, Inc. — An editorial discussion of contests appears in the April issue of Writer's Digest. The following sentence appears in this discussion: "All Macfadden contests are always fair and square." I know that it must be pleasant for your staff who worked so hard on this contest to know that the literary trade believes in you and has complete faith in the fairness of your work. — Signed, Aron M. Mathieu, Writer's Dicest. HERE ARE THE RULES READ THEM CAREFULLY All stories must be written in the first person based on facts that happened either in the lives of the writers of these stories, or to people of their acquaintance, reasonable evidence of truth to be furnished by writers upon request. Type manuscripts or write legibly with pen. Do not send us printed material or poetry. Do not send us carbon copies. Do not write in pencil. Do not submit stories of less than 2,500 or more than 50,000 words. Do not send us unfinished stories. Stories must be written in English. Write on one side of paper only. Put on FIRST CLASS POSTAGE IN FULL, otherwise manuscripts will be refused. Enclose return first class postage in same container with manuscript. Send material flat. Do not roll. Do not use thin tissue or onion skin paper. At the top of first page record the total number of words in your story. Number the pages. PRINT YOUR FULL NAME AND ADDRESS ON UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER OF FIRST PAGE AND UPON ENVELOPE and sign your full name and legal address in your own handwriting at foot of the last page of your manuscript. You may submit more than one manuscript but not more than one prize will be awarded to an individual in this contest. Every possible effort will be made to return unavailable manuscripts, if first-class postage or expressage is enclosed in same container with manuscript, but we do not hold ourselves responsible for such return and we advise contestants to retain a copy of stories submitted. Do not send to us stories which we have returned. As soon as possible after receipt of each manuscript, an acknowledgment will be mailed. No change or correction can be made in manuscripts after they reach us. No correspondence can be entered into concerning manuscripts once they have been submitted or after they have been rejected. Always disguise the names of persons and places appearing in your stories. Unavailable stories will be returned as soon as rejected irrespective of closing date of contest. This contest is open to everyone everywhere in the world, except employees and former employees of Macfadden Publications, Inc., and members of their families. If a story is selected by the editors for immediate purchase, it will be paid for at our regular rate and this will in no way affect the judges in their decision. If your story is awarded a prize, a check for whatever balance is due will be mailed. The decisions of the judges will be final, there being no appeal from their decision. Names of prize winners will be published, but not in a manner to identify the writers with the stories they submit. Under no condition submit any story that has ever before been published in any form. Submit your manuscript to us direct. Due to the intimate nature of the stories we prefer to have our contributors send in their material to us direct and not through an intermediary. With the exception of an explanatory letter, which we always welcome, do not enclose photographs or other extraneous matter except return postage. This contest ends at midnight, Monday, November 30, 1936. Address your manuscripts to Maciadden Publications Manuscript Contest, Dept. 27C, P. O. Box 490, Grand Central Station, New York N. Y. Macfadden Publications, Inc., Dept. 27C RM P. O. Box 490, Grand Central Station, New York, N. Y. Please send me my free copy of your booklet entitled "Facts You Should Know Before Writing True Stories". Name. Street. Town State (Print name of state in full.)