Rules for the First Agonistes Contest

1. Your submission must be a personal essay on the topic of Richard Nixon as a Greek tragic hero. It must include a reference to and the cite for the saying attributed to Sophocles: “One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has been.” It must include a discussion of the saying as part of the essay, and if the saying or attribution is apocryphal, that must be discussed instead.
2. You may include a bio with your submission. Include at least a short statement, something about yourself, and how you came to write the essay.
3. Your submission must include a self-addressed envelope with correct postage affixed.
4. The prize in the amount of two hundred dollars will be awarded in the sole judgment of the editor. The editor reserves the right to award more than one prize, one prize, or no prize at all.
5. By accepting the prize, the writer releases all rights to the essay to Colonus Publishing, Inc. Publication of the essay in a book is contingent upon the editor’s receiving, in the editor’s sole judgment, sufficient essays of publishable quality in subsequent contests to constitute sufficient material for a book. In the event that the editor does not receive sufficient essays to comprise a book, the editor reserves the right to publish the essays on the Colonus Publishing, Inc. Web site.
6. The first Agonistes Contest opens on September 1, 2009, and closes on June 1, 2010. Please allow twelve weeks for a reply before you query.
7. Your submission and any materials enclosed with your submission will not be returned. Please send only copies.
8. Please advise us if the essay has been submitted elsewhere or is part of a larger work.
9. The editor reserves the right to amend or supplement these rules to the First Agonistes Contest in order to clarify them and to effect the goal of the Agonistes Contests, which is to acquire sufficient personal essays about Richard Nixon in order to publish a book of creative nonfiction.

Please send your submission to:
Colonus Publishing, Inc.
Attn: First Agonistes Prize
PO Box 10249
Spokane, WA 99209