Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:

You are obviously a complete novice when it comes to running a "writing
contest".

Where's the entry fee? The combined fees from the minimum number of
entries should be at least 5-10 times the total prizes available for
payout. :-)

Then, once the contest is decided, all of the prize winners as well as
the dozens of runners-up will be offered an opportunity to purchase a
case lot of special edition books suitable for presentation to friends,
family, and business associates. The books wll feature "an anthology of
the finest emerging writers of maritime fiction." (40 books in a case,
"wholesaling" at just $25 per copy. Cover price $69.95. "Oprah Winfrey,
here I come?" No, make that "Flea market, here I come!")

Sounds like fun. If you get enough entries to actually run the event I
would be happy to serve on the committee reading through them and
render an opinion. *Might* even publish one......but won't commit in
advance. :-)