The Amy Foundation Writing Awards program is designed to recognize creative, skillful writing that applies in a sensitive, thought-provoking manner the biblical principles to issues affecting the world today, with an emphasis on discipling.

To be eligible, submitted articles must be published in a secular, non-religious publication (either printed or online) and must be reinforced with at least one passage of scripture.

NOTE:  Entries must be postmarked on or before January 31, 2011 to qualify for the 2010 Amy Writing Awards. 

ELIGIBILITY

• The article must have been published in a mainstream, non-religious publication (either printed or online), as determined by the Awards Panel.
• The article must contain at least one passage of scripture.
• The article must have been published between January 1 and December 31 of the current calendar year.
• Books, poetry, fiction and/or manuscripts are not accepted.

CONTENT

• God's word must be quoted directly from the Bible and the Bible must be acknowledged as the source.
• Biblical quotations must be taken from an accepted and popular edition of the Bible, such as the New International Version, The Living Bible, the King James, or the Revised Standard Version.
• The article must present the biblical principles on an issue as relevant, timely and deserving of thoughtful consideration, with an emphasis on discipling.
• Examples of issues for consideration, but not limited to these, are family life, divorce, values, pornography, morality, U.S. National interests, abortion, religion and addictions. The biblical impact on individual character and outlook are also appropriate issues.
• The need for obedience through biblical truth should be evident.

JUDGING GUIDELINES

In addition to content, qualified articles will be judged on the following primary considerations:

• Persuasive power of the article.  We are looking for articles that contain a discipling message, not articles that tug at emotional heartstrings.
• Author's skill in relating God's word to current interest issues.
• Author's sensitivity in presenting a biblical perspective to the search for meaning in life.
• Extent to which creativity and skillfulness are used to present God's position on issues affecting the world today in a sensitive, thought-provoking manner.
• Decisions by the Judges and Awards Panel will be final.
  

For examples of prize-winning articles, click here.

SUBMISSION

• Submission of a printed entry must be in the form of the actual full page(s) or tear sheet(s) from the newspaper or magazine containing the publication name and date.  (Download submission form.)
• Submission of an online entry must be in the form of a printout of the article on the website of the newspaper or magazine. The web address (URL) of the article and the contact information for the online editor must also be submitted.  (Download submission form.)
• The total number of qualified entries (both printed and/or online) that may be submitted by a single author is limited to ten.
• All entries must be postmarked on or before January 31 of the following year.

• Entries will not be returned.
• Articles may be submitted to: The Amy Foundation Writing Awards, P. O. Box 16091, Lansing, MI 48901-6091. Winners are notified by May 1.

SUPPLEMENTAL CONTEST RULES FOR ONLINE ARTICLES ONLY

Beginning with the 2008 Amy Writing Awards, articles are accepted that have been published on the web pages of mainstream, non-religious newspaper, news or e-magazine websites as determined by the Amy Writing Awards panel.  Articles published in print, as well as those published online will be judged in one contest. 

If a submission did not appear in a print newspaper or magazine, but was posted on a mainstream, non-religious newspaper, news or e-magazine website, the rules remain the same as for those articles that appeared in a newspaper or magazine except:

• Only online articles that appear on mainstream, non-religious news or e-magazine websites as determined by the Amy Writing Awards panel will be accepted.  Decisions of the judges are final.
• Articles or entries from “blogs” or newsletters are not eligible.
• Only entries sent in a printed format on paper exactly how they appeared on the website will be accepted.  URL addresses of columns will not be accepted as an entry.  Articles must be sent via US Mail, not via email.