Write Essay - Win Alabama Home!

Pix-N-Pens is pleased to announce a one-time only special ESSAY contest with the theme: “Small Town, U.S.A.”

The Theme: Your entry should focus on “Small Town, U.S.A.” but the interpretation you choose is up to you. The entries will be judged on originality, creativity, personality, and overall writing ability, as well as how closely it fits our theme of “Small Town U.S.A.”

Do you dream of moving to a small town? Or long to get out of one? Do you love living in a small town, or can you only imagine what it’s like to live there? Do you have a special memory of a small town, or spend a holiday there? Are small towns old-school, or are they the way of the future? The choice is yours – create a memorable essay that causes reader reaction.

To Enter: Submit your essay in the body of an email to SelmaHouseEssay [at] yahoo [dot]com (just remove the at and the dot and replace with symbols), 500 words or less, by NOON, Friday, May 30, 2008 for your chance to win.

Entry Checklist:

• At the top of the entry, left side, include name, address, phone number, email address, title of your entry, and method of payment (preferably including your cashier’s check or money order number.) For example of perfectly formatted email, click here.

• 500 words or less, with theme "Small Town, U.S.A."

• No attachments will be accepted.

• Written essays are the only form acceptable for entry – no audio or video entries allowed.

• You must be 18 years or older to enter.

• You may also include your website address – if you are the winner, or even perhaps one of the finalists, Pix-N-Pens may help promote your business, too. We reserve the right to deny promotion of your business for any reason.
  

Entry Fee: This contest does require an entry fee of $50 USD. Mail this fee, with cashier’s check or money order made payable to PIX-N-PENS to:

PIX-N-PENS
ESSAY CONTEST
P.O. BOX 265
LOWNDESBORO, AL 36752

With your entry fee, you MUST include a self-addressed, stamped envelope to receive a refund should the contest be cancelled due to lack of entries. You must also include a copy of the first paragraph of your manuscript with your fee, so payment can be matched to entry, but do NOT include the entire manuscript.

You will be notified by email when payment is received.

You may enter as often as you wish, but each essay must be e-mailed separately, and an entry fee paid for each. You may combine the entry fees into one check or money order, and mail in a single envelope. Only one SASE is required, even if you enter multiple times.

All entry fees are final and non-refundable, unless the 1500 entry limit is not met - then all fees will be refunded.

All entries and entry fees MUST be received by Noon, May 30th, 2008, so mail early to insure on-time delivery.

Judging: A panel of published authors will judge the entries in two rounds. No judges or their immediate family members may enter the contest. The entries will be judged on originality, creativity, personality, and overall writing ability, as well as how closely it fits our theme of “Small Town U.S.A.” We are pleased to announce that Senior Editor of The Saturday Evening Post will judge the top 25 finalists.

Winner: The person submitting the winning entry will be awarded full title to a 3 BR, 2 BA house in Selma, AL. Pictures of the house are shown below. Winner is responsible for all taxes incurred as a result of winning. House is transferred as-is, and will be stated as such in the closing paperwork. Pix-N-Pens will provide a one-year Home Warranty when the home is transferred to the winner.

The person submitting the winning entry will be notified by email, and arrangements for title transfer will be made at that time. The winning entry will also be published on Pix-N-Pens, after transfer takes place. And as usual for Pix-N-Pens contestants, there could be some extra perks along the way for any or all contestants or finalists.

The winner will not be responsible for any closing costs associated with the transfer. The winner will be responsible for the property taxes and insurance going forward. The 2007 Property Taxes were $381 and Homeowners insurance $746. The winner is also responsible for any expenses they may incur for travel to Selma for the title transfer.

Viewing the home: At this time, we are not allowing people to tour our home. We will continue to post pictures and provide as much information as we can and ask that you, out of respect for the families in the neighborhood, not drive by or knock on the door for a walk-through.

About the HOUSE:

• 3 bedrooms, 2 Baths (one with shower/tub combo, the other with shower).
  
  
• Approximately 1500-square foot ranch-style house with vinyl siding.
  
  
• Large eat-in kitchen, dining room, living room, large den with electric fireplace.
  
  
• All appliances included – in good working order with owner’s manuals: side-by-side refrigerator, electric range, microwave, washer, dryer, central heat and air with digital thermostat.
  
  
• Fenced backyard – plum and pomegranate trees. Two storage buildings – one large, one small, both with electrical wiring.
  
  
• House does need new paint and carpet so winner will receive a carpet and paint allowance at closing.
  
  
• A Homeowner’s Warranty will be provided when home is transferred.
  
  

About the TOWN:

Visit the following links to learn more about Selma, Alabama:

Selma, Alabama Community Site

Selma, Alabama Official Government Site


Entries will not be posted as they arrive. We will post the winning entry after the prize has been awarded, and may print other entries after that time, too.

Help spread the word – tell all your friends and family about this fun contest. Send them the www.pixnpens.com link to post on their blogs, too!