![\"tobacco-lit\"](\"http:\/\/kalamu.com\/neogriot\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/tobacco-lit.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIntroducing the\u00a0Geist\u00a0Tobacco Lit Writing Contest<\/strong>\u2014submit before\u00a0September 1, 2014<\/strong>\u00a0to win cash prizes and publication in\u00a0Geist. Read on for more details.<\/span><\/p>\n It calms, soothes, relaxes, smells great, tastes better; loosens muscles, heightens focus; makes you look older, makes you look cooler; dulls taste buds, shortens your breath; yellows teeth, blackens lungs; cripples your heart, fries your brain, and of course, it kills you. To the cigarette, for all that it does, it is time we pay tribute.<\/span><\/p>\n Since the dawn of\u00a0time, writers have sought their muse at the bottom of a pack of cigarettes, hunted for meaning in a few fleeting drags. It is the sacred ritual,\u00a0the scratch of pen on paper, match on strike pad, ink and carbon, write and roll; inhale, exhale, think, compose.<\/span><\/p>\n Cancer, strokes, birth defects, heart attacks, hypertension, and now\u00a0$1000 in cash prizes<\/strong>: Tobacco has it all.<\/span><\/p>\n For inspiration, check out\u00a0Notes from the Ashtray<\/strong><\/span><\/a>, the official\u00a0Geist<\/em>\u00a0Tobacco Lit blog.<\/span><\/p>\n How it works:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Write some tobacco lit.\u00a0True or false, and any genre\u2014we’re not picky, as long as it’s an original work.\u00a0Just make it 500 words or less. See our\u00a0FAQ<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0for the nitty-gritty.<\/span><\/p>\n Prizes:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n First Prize:\u00a0<\/strong>$500<\/span><\/p>\n Second Prize:\u00a0<\/strong>$250<\/span><\/p>\n Third Prize:<\/strong>\u00a0$150<\/span><\/p>\n Honourable Mention:<\/strong>\u00a0$100<\/span><\/p>\n All winning entries will be published in\u00a0Geist<\/em>\u00a0and on geist.com.<\/span><\/p>\n Entry Fee: $20<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Includes a one-year subscription to\u00a0Geist<\/em>, Canada’s favourite literary magazine. International entrants will receive the\u00a0digital edition<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n All additional entries are\u00a0$5<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n How to Enter:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n ONLINE<\/strong>:\u00a0Click here<\/span><\/a>. You will be prompted to upload your story and pay your entry fee.<\/span><\/p>\n BY MAIL<\/strong>: Send submission\u00a0with a cover letter (including name, mailing address, phone number, email, title of entry and a note about how you found out about the contest) and a $20 entry fee to:<\/span><\/p>\n Geist Editorial Board<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Entries without an accompanying cover letter or entry fee will not be accepted.<\/span><\/p>\n Deadline:\u00a0<\/strong>Entries must be postmarked no later than\u00a0September 1, 2014<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n Check out the Tobacco Lit Writing Contest FAQ here<\/span><\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n210-111 West Hastings Street\r\nVancouver, BC V6B 1H4 <\/span><\/pre>\n