Yayas Wins Writing Prize

The Florida Keys Council of the Arts, in conjunction with the Key West Writers Guild, congratulates Chris Yayas as the winner of the 2006 Key West Writers Guild Award.

Yayas, a Key West resident, entered an excerpt from his work in progress, "Only One Way Out," and was selected to receive the $2,000 cash prize. The announcement was made at the June 24 meeting of the Key West Writers Guild.

Local scribes with works in progress may be encouraged to know that funds for aspiring writers are available annually. The Fourth Annual Key West Writer's Guild Award will offer a $2,000 stipend for a talented writer working on either a novel or a work of non-fiction. Past winners include writers Donna Smith and Cricket Desmarais.

To qualify for the award, which is administered through the Florida Keys Council of the Arts, you must be a resident of Monroe County and a member of the Key West Writers Guild. Membership in the Key West Writers Guild is $10 annually. Deadline for submission is January 13, 2007 at noon.

Applicants are required to read from the manuscript to be submitted at no less than two meetings during 2006 through January 13, 2007. The Key West Writers Guild meets mornings on the second and fourth Saturday of the month on the second floor of Kelly's Caribbean Grill, 303 Whitehead Street, in Key West. All are welcome to attend and applicants must become members of the Key West Writer's Guild.

Submissions should include a completed application form and two copies of a manuscript or manuscript excerpt of 30 pages or more, double-spaced and in 12-point type only.

The author's name, mailing address and e-mail address must appear on the cover sheet only. For judging purposes, the authors name must not appear in the body of the manuscript or in the heading/footer. Manuscripts will not be returned.

The award is supported by private funds and administered by the Florida Keys Council of the Arts. The complete application and instructions are posted on www.keysarts.com.

Go to www.keysarts.com, select "Links and Grant Information," and then scroll down the page to the "Local" section.

For more information, attend a Writers' Guild meeting on the second and fourth Saturday of each month; or call the Florida Keys Council of the Arts at 305-295-4369, e-mail info@keysarts.com; or visit www.keysarts.com.

For immediate release
June 30, 2006

Contact Monica Haskell
305-295-4369