It is time to gather up your skills for the 2008 Biennial that will take place next on April 24-27 in Washington, D. C. We have contests for writers of all stripes. You may choose among several forms of poetry (such as free verse, humor, and traditional), nonfiction and fiction (articles, stories, or books), and scripts for plays.

The basic rules state that you are allowed to submit each entry to only one category. The material must be original and unpublished, and it cannot have won any previous Biennial prize. Entries must be postmarked no later than January 14, 2008.

Pen Women in Letters are invited to submit a one-page proposal for the two-and-one-half-hour Biennial Letters Workshop. We will accept one proposal per person. Only one will be selected. The winning presenter will receive an award at the Letters banquet.

In your proposal, please state the workshop title and theme, and provide a brief description of the program. On a second sheet, provide a short bio, including your Letters category (i.e., poetry or prose), titles of your work, and publications to date plus any that are pending. Remember that a workshop is more interesting for participants if it is interactive with creative writing exercises, discussion points, or short readings, for example. Please do not propose a workshop about how to find a publisher.

The entry fee for your proposal is ten dollars ($10.00) by check only. Entries must be postmarked no later than January 14, 2008. Type your name, mailing address, and e-mail address in the upper right-hand corner of a cover page. On the outside of the mailing envelope, write "Workshop." Submit entry fees and proposals to Ms. Gail Ferguson, Letters Chair, PO Box 322, Fox Island, WA 98333-0322.

Keep copies for yourself. No proposals will be returned.