Competition Details

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The “Montana Monologues” project is an opportunity for MPN members to showcase their work in performance and publication.  Selected poetry, stage monologues, short essays, memoirs, and short plays will be performed at the first “Montana Playwrights Conference” scheduled for November 2, 3, 2017, at Helena College in Helena, Montana. A collection of these works will be published within two years, or later depending upon the amount and overall quality of submissions gathered in a two year period. Creative works written by members, but not performed at the annual conference, may also be considered for this publication.

        

Members retain ownership rights to their creative works, but featured writers are required to submit written permission for their works to be included in any MPN sponsored publication or anthology of members’ works.  All proceeds from any such publications are used to support the Network, and the annual conference.

Monologue Competition Guidelines

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1.       All members of the Montana Playwrights Network (MPN) may submit up to two creative works per year for consideration in the “Montana Monologues” project.  You must be a member to participate.  Send us your best!

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2.       Writers’ themes must clearly illustrate an aspect of Montana life, past, present or future. 

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3.       Poetry must not exceed 20 lines, and stage monologues, short essays and memoirs must not exceed 500 words. Only unpublished works are eligible for consideration.  Short plays may not exceed 8 pages of dialogue in standard manuscript format. 

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4.       The work submitted may be comedic, tragic, inspirational or non-fiction.  It should be “stand-alone”, and must not depend upon a larger body of work in order to be enjoyed, understood or performed; however, excerpted work may be submitted if it meets the “stand-alone” requirement. 

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5.       For Stage Monologues: Monologues must be clearly intended for live theatrical performance or auditions, and exhibit standard theatrical playwriting techniques.  Avoid writing a static “memory piece” or disguising an essay or memoir as a theatrical monologue.  Create monologues that offer present, in-the-moment performance by an actor.  Be certain the monologue contains a dramatic arc that creates dramatic action and sense of progression in performance. Your monologue should be consistent with material often used by successful actors in auditions. 

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6.       The works submitted must not require the use of multiple props or costumes, although one prop or costume piece may be specified for any genre or style. 

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7.       Submit your work in Word or PDF format.  Limit one piece per file.  Type size is 12 point, and use Times New Roman as the font.  Double-space any memoir or essays.

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8.       Submit to: montanaplaywrights@gmail.com, and label your email subject line as “Montana Works Submission."  

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Submission Deadline, September 15, 2017