Call for Entries: “Adventures in Hostelling” Writing Contest
May 23, 2008
Entry deadline: July 15, 2008
In honor of our 50th anniversary, the Golden Gate Council of Hostelling International USA is seeking short, personal stories (150-250 words) about how the experience of staying at a hostel has broadened your horizons, changed your perspective, or otherwise enriched your life.
We are seeking real-life anecdotes about a specific experience that either took place at a hostel or was made possible through a hostel stay. Did you meet someone at a hostel who changed the course of your life? Did you end up embarking on an adventure you never imagined? Did you make a life decision as a result of a hostel stay? Did something funny, unexpected, or simply memorable happen to you while hostelling?
In short, we’re looking for stories that help to demonstrate the breadth of experiences made possible by hostelling, or that illustrate the Council’s mission to help travelers "gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling."
All winning stories will be printed and distributed by the Council in a 50th anniversary commemorative publication. In addition, a number of prize packages will be awarded as follows:
- One Grand Prize winner will receive one round-trip ticket voucher for international travel on American Airlines, valid through March 5, 2009.
- Three Jury Prize winners will each receive a Flip Video camera.
- Honorable Mention winners will each receive a one-year Hostelling International membership.
Entries must be 150-250 words. One entry per person. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter.
Winners will be chosen by a jury including professional travel writers, other travel industry professionals, and HI-USA Golden Gate Council staff and alumni.
Entries will be judged on:
- Entertainment value
- Literary/narrative quality
- Relevance to the mission of HI-USA Golden Gate Council
How to Enter
Entries must be received no later than July 15, 2008.
Or mail your entry, along with your name, mailing address, phone number, and email address, to:
Adventures in Hostelling Writing Contest
HI-USA Golden Gate Council
425 Divisadero Street #307
San Francisco, CA 94117
USA
Terms and Conditions
- HI-USA Golden Gate Council requires first-time worldwide print and electronic publication rights for all submissions which are accepted as Contest winners and for publication. In addition, HI-USA Golden Gate Council reserves the right to reprint the story in any future publications, print and/or electronic. HI-USA Golden Gate Council reserves the right to edit submissions for content and/or style prior to publication. The writer retains the right to republish unedited submissions after January 1, 2009.
- By entering the Contest, the entrant certifies that s/he is the sole author of the submitted story, that s/he is the sole copyright holder, and that s/he has full authority to transfer publication rights to HI-USA Golden Gate Council, which s/he agrees to do upon submission of the story.
- Past and present employees of HI-USA Golden Gate Council or any affiliate with HI-USA and their immediate family are ineligible.
- Entrants must be 18 years of age or older.
- All entries must be written in English.
- All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time, on July 15, 2008.
- HI-USA Golden Gate Council is not responsible for late, lost, misdirected, incomplete, or illegible mail or for any computer-related, online, or technical malfunctions that may occur in the submission process.
- Submissions are considered void if illegible, incomplete, damaged, irregular, altered, counterfeit, produced in error, or obtained through fraud or theft.
- Winners will be contacted and a list of winners published on NorCalHostels.org no later than September 6, 2008.
- Decisions of the judges are final.
- Prizes may not be transferred, redeemed for cash, or substituted.
- All prizes are awarded "as is," with no warranty or guarantee by HI-USA Golden Gate Council.
- All federal, state, and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the Contest winners.
- Void where prohibited by law.