Mark Twain House Launches "Royal Nonesuch" Humor Writing Contest

"The Royal Nonesuch Humor Writing Contest," launched this week by The Mark Twain House & Museum, aims to find the next generation of humor writers working in Twain's favorite genre. Submissions are due by midnight on June 30th, 2014, and can be uploaded at https://twainhouse.submittable.com/submit. Entries must be 10,000 words or less and may be either a fictional or nonfictional work of humor. Submissions will be accepted in two categories: Adult (age 18 and over at time of submission) at $22 per submission, and Young Author (age 17 and under at time of submission) at $12 per submission.

Submissions will be judged by our award-winning Mark Twain House staff writers and scholars, Trinity College faculty, and celebrity judges: Roy Blount, Jr., author of numerous humor books including Alphabet Juice; Colin McEnroe, author and WNPR host; and Lucy Ferris, author of The Lost Daughter. Celebrity judges for the 17 & under contest are Tim Federle, author of Better Nate Than Ever; and Jessica Lawson, author of The Actual & Truthful Adventures of Becky Thatcher.

Comedic writer Andy Borowitz said about the contest, "If Mark Twain were alive, he'd be happy about this contest, because he'd win it."

"Trinity College is delighted to be involved in this great initiative on the part of the Mark Twain House. Our faculty in the Creative Writing program will be among the distinguished judges, led this first year by Roy Blount, Jr. I like to think that the Great Man himself is smiling down and nodding in approval," said Trinity College President James F. Jones, Jr.

Winners will be notified by September 5 and presented to the public at the 4th Annual "Mark My Words" event October 21. "Mark My Words" is an annual event at which bestselling authors appear to benefit The Mark Twain House & Museum. Past authors have included John Grisham, David Baldacci, and Sandra Brown. Winners and runners-up are offered the opportunity to meet guest authors. First, second, and third prizes will be awarded in both categories with cash prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250 respectively. Honorable mentions will receive $100 gift certificates to The Mark Twain House & Museum store.

Submissions are not required to be in the style of Mark Twain or about Mark Twain. The purpose of the contest is to support Humor writing as a genre, to foster storytelling through comedy, and to support young writers.

"The Royal Nonesuch National Humor Writing contest is part of a new initiative by The Mark Twain House & Museum to expand its offerings for modern-day writers to learn to write better, present their work, and expand their writing lives," said Julia Pistell, Director of Writing Programs. "Fans of Mark Twain will recognize the 'Royal Nonesuch' reference from Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."

Proceeds from submission fees will all go towards maintaining the Mark Twain House & Museum and its mission.

For more information, call 860-247-0998 or visit www.marktwainhouse.org.