Judges
We NEED Judges
We need more people to help judge the Abandoned Towers Writing Contest, so if you’re interested, let us know! Below, you’ll find the expectations of being a judge.
Preliminary Judges
Preliminary Judges will be responsible for reading all the entries we receive* and determining whether an entry is short listed or not. These judges will be asked to score each entry using the following scale:
- 0-20 points: Theme – how well the piece captures the “abandoned towers” theme
- 0-20 points: Writing – the quality of the writing
- 0-20 points: Potential – the quality of the ideas
- 0-20 points: Enjoyment – how much they enjoyed the piece
- 0-20 points: Intangibles – everything else
Judges will also be asked whether they recommend the piece be short listed. The number of entries considered for the short list will depend on the scoring of the preliminary judging and the number of entries.
Each slush piece will be judged by at least two judges; if the scores differ by more than 20 points an additional judging will take place.
* note: the preliminary judges collectively will read all entries receive. Individual judges are not required to read all entries.
Benefits
Preliminary judges will receive a free electronic copy of the Abandoned Towers issue(s) containing the winning pieces. Judges are also entitled to have a bio page on AbandonedTowers.com describing themselves and providing links to their web pages, and works in print.
Final Judges
Final Judges need not have participated in the Preliminary judging, although you’re welcome to volunteer for both phases.
These judges will read all short listed pieces in the category they are judging and will rank those pieces in their order of preference. They will further be asked whether they consider the piece worthy of being a “winner” regardless of the relative rank of the piece in their list.
The same scale that is used by the Preliminary Judges will be used by the Final Judges. The winners will be determined by the average judged score and their relative rankings. In extraordinary circumstances, the scores of the preliminary judges may also be considered.
For a piece to be considered a “winner” it must be judged to be worthy of being a “winner” by at least two judges. If at least three pieces are not judged to be of “winner” quality the purse will be divided amongst those pieces which are judged to be of “winner” quality. If no pieces are judged to be of sufficiently high quality, the prize will be awarded by way of a draw.
The number of honourable mentions will be based on the number of entries received and the relative scoring of non-winning pieces.
Benefits
Preliminary judges will receive a free electronic copy of the Abandoned Towers issue(s) containing the winning pieces. Judges are also entitled to have a bio page on AbandonedTowers.com describing themselves and providing links to their web pages, and works in print.
Judges Eligibility
Final Judges may not win a top prize in a category which they are judging, but they may receive honourable mention. They have full eligibility for categories they are not judging.
Preliminary Judges (who are not also Final Judges) maintain full eligibility for all prizes in all categories.
Note: given that all pieces are judged by multiple judges it is not possible for a judge to award themselves a prize.
Current Judges
The following judges are already confirmed:
Flash Fiction
- K.E. Abel
- David Cowley
- Jim Maher
- Rob Jacobsen
- Rory J Cole
- Suzanne van Rooyen
Poetry
- Jessica Cortinas
- Sonnet Mondal
- Suzanne van Rooyen
Short Story
- K.E. Abel
- Ahimsa Kerp
- Christopher Davey
- Jim Maher
- Merle Alix
- Rory J Cole