OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES- 2009

Please read these rules carefully. Stories that do not follow the contest rules may be disqualified.

1. Each story entry will include a bio and a copy of a posting to the Nontraditional Student Forum. This posting may be short, but must be thoughtful and apply to the subject being talked about there. Just register there and get a password, then post to whatever subject interests you.

You can use the copy and paste function on your computer to put your forum posting on your story page at the beginning or after the ending.

2. Your story must be original and about your experience as a nontraditional student. Please send all entries to:

Your biography: Include a short bio about yourself, telling your interests, what you are learning about, where you live, a bit about your background, etc. Explain why you chose to go back to school. Please also say your reason for wanting to win the $25.00 prize.

Include your name, full address and current phone number in your bio section so we can contact you if you win the contest or if we have questions about your entry. A photo of yourself is optional, but recommended.

The deadline: The deadline for emailing your story or stories is March 31st, 2009.

Your theme: Please tell something about yourself and your nontraditional student journey. It may be a funny story or a serious one, but make it something that current and/or future nontraditional students would find interesting.

Personal information: Put all of your personal information in the same file as your story. You may put it before or after your story. Stories without correct personal information or incomplete entries cannot be accepted. Also, as this is a family-safe site, please keep good taste in mind.

Your name: All entries may be chosen to be published on the Nontraditional Student website now or in the future along with your real name and/or byline. You may choose to publish under a pen name. If so, please include both names in your entry and indicated clearly which is which.

Formatting: When sending your story or article, please send it as an attachment in an easy-to-read format, such as Microsoft Word or a simple text file (.txt). A PDF file or photo of your story or copy in a hard-to-read format will not be eligible, because it would be too hard to re-type the article in order to put it on the site.

Put Nontrad Story #___ in your subject line of your email, and attach your story as an attachment to that email.

Got links? You may put a link to your website or an email contact at the end of your story if you wish. It will be up to the Editor whether or not to include it with your story.

Story length: Your story may not be more than 250 words. Please use a word-counting program or count your words manually before you send in your story.

Publishing: Stories will be published later on in the year. Winners will be notified by email and/or postcard and/or letter if they win the Grand Prize or Honorable Mention. Please indicate which personal information you do NOT wish to be published if your story is chosen, otherwise all your information may be published.

The website editor may choose to put your name, ID information, and your photo at the beginning, end, or middle of the story when published. Your story may be divided into sections, or continued on another web page, if necessary, when it is published on the site.

Number of entries: Please limit your entries to five.

Money and other prizes: The prize-winning story will win $25.00 and a special mention on the Nontraditional Student website, as well as having his or her story published on the site as well with mention of being the very best story among the entries. Further entries may receive Honorable Mentions and could also be featured on the main page or other page of the site too, so be sure to send in your very best work.

Fees: There is no fee to send in your entries, and no reading fee will be charged. This contest is absolutely free to you. (At least for this first year!)

What the editor is looking for: Your story will be judged on originality, quality of writing, interest to other nontraditional students, good description, and ease of reading. Some questions to ask before sending your story are:

1.Is this something that catches and keeps the reader's interest?

2. Does it have a clear beginning, middle and end?

3. Have I followed all the rules on the Rules Page?

4. Have I posted an entry on the Nontrads Forum site and copied it to each story entry at the beginning or end, along with all of my personal information and my photo?

Other hints: I suggest that you run a spellcheck program and make sure to proofread and edit your story or stories before sending.

I look forward to reading all of your stories. You are helping other nontraditional students by entering this contest, because they will be able to go back to school easier knowing that others have done it before them.

Good luck, Nontrads!