The competition

Entries will be accepted between March 3rd 2011 and midnight on April 29th 2011. In order to establish a manageable long list all entries will initially be read by members of the READ International team. This long list will then be uploaded to the Read for READ website and public voting will commence on the 10th May 2011. The ten stories with the most public votes by midnight on the 10th July 2010 will go through to the final and be assessed by our panel of judges who will pick three winners. The winners’ stories will be published in an anthology.

Eligibility

* Entrants must be over the age of 16. 

* Stories must be on the theme ‘The Book Effect’. 

* Stories must be a maximum of 5000 words. 

* Entry to the competition is free.

* Entries can be made online or by post.

* Postal entries will only be accepted as printed typescripts. Please send postal entry/entries to READ International, 39-41 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, London, SE5 9NR. 

* There is no geographical restriction on entry - Read for READ is open to everyone, whether they are based in the UK or outside the UK. Entrants may be of any nationality. 

* All entries should be in English.

* Authors may enter as many stories as they like.

* Each postal submission must be accompanied by an entry form.

* The story submitted must be original, entirely the author’s own work, not infringe the copyright or any other rights of any third party and not be defamatory of any living person or any organisation or corporate body, and be suitable for publication.

* Entries must be entirely the work of the entrant and must never have been previously published or broadcast.

* Any entry found to have been plagiarised will be disqualified. Simultaneous submissions are welcome but please let us know as soon as possible if a story is to be published elsewhere.

Copyright and terms of use

* By submitting a story the entrant acknowledges and agrees that the story will be available for publication.

* Further to this, by submitting the story the entrant confirms there is no restriction in respect of the story which would prevent the above.

* By submitting a story the entrant agrees that READ International may in its sole discretion edit, adapt or abridge it for the sole purposes of publication. There is no obligation on READ International to publish at any stage.

* All authors must agree to have their work published in the Read for READ Anthology, in both print and ebook formats, should they be one of the three winning authors. Authors will retain worldwide copyright on their work but READ International has first publication rights to publish the winning stories in the Read for READ Anthology, in both print and ebook formats.

* Any royalties on net sales of either print or ebook versions of the Read for READ Anthology will go to READ International.

* In the event that a READ International Anthology containing the winners’ entries is published the author will be deemed to have granted the rights for such publication and distribution.

* By submitting a story the entrant agrees to attend the award ceremony in the event of being chosen as one of three winners, and to also undertake a mutually acceptable limited programme of activities to promote the anthology.

Judging

* Winners will be contacted personally by email or by telephone.

* The judging will be fair and independent. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Administration and communication

* Postal entries will only be accepted as printed typescripts. Please send postal entry/entries to READ International, 39-41 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, London, SE5 9NR.

* Those entrants who make the long list will find their stories have been uploaded to the Read for READ webpage on the 10th May 2010. Individual notification of stories that have made the long list will not be entered into.

* Entrants must provide their name, e-mail address or telephone number and postal address. READ International will only ever use personal details for the purposes of administering this competition, and will not publish them or provide them without permission to anyone not involved in the administration of this competition.

* Entrants must supply full details as required above, and comply with all rules to be eligible for the competition. Ineligible, obscene or fraudulent entries will be automatically disqualified.

* READ International reserves the right to cancel this competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances arise outside of its control. 

* Voting for the competition starts at 9am on the 10th May 2011 until midnight on the 10th July 2011. Votes placed before or after these dates and times won’t be counted, but it will not be possible to refund the cost of the vote, so make sure you cast your votes between these times.

* READ International reserves the right to refuse entry to the competition for any reason at its absolute discretion.

* The entrant agrees to obtain READ International’s prior written consent not to be unreasonably withheld before taking on any of its own press or publicity activity relating to their involvement in the competition. 

* Entry implies an acceptance of all the rules. Entries that fail to comply with the entry rules and requirements will be disqualified.

* These rules are governed by the exclusive laws of England and Wales.