The best writing contest around is also the simplest. There’s a beautiful Bed & Breakfast in Maine called the Center Lovell Inn on Kezar Lake. Built in 1805, it has 10 guest bedrooms, a 40-seat dining room and, best of all, it can be yours. All you have to do is want it–and be the very best at expressing that desire in 200 word or less. (Or about two good paragraphs.)
Current owner Janice Sage will judge, and give the inn to the winner. Sage has some experience with all this: she won the hotel with her own mini-essay back in 1993, when the former owners ran a similar contest. How can Sage pull this off? The Portland Herald Press explains that Sage figures to attract 7,500 entrants at the $125 entry fee, which will net her $900,000. With that tidy sum in hand she can focus on the prose. So sharpen up those pencils. All entries must be received by May 17–details here. (Btw, these 2paragraphs are 160 words.)