Should We Be Grateful? (2018)

How to Face a Disaster? (2017)

I am an Immigrant (2016)

The Defining Theme of Our Age (2015)

You and Your 100-Year-Old Self (2014)

What Is Your Motto? (2013)

The Last 72 (2010 )

Should We Be Grateful? (2018)

1st Place

“Grateful for A Soldier’s War”

• Celine Dan Tam Nguyen

2nd Place

“At Least”

• Gaye Brown

3rd Place

“Homeless”

• Judy Ann Eichstedt

Honorable Mention

“Grateful for Death”

• Jessica Gurgick

Honorable Mention

“What Do You Say?”

• Kimberly Moore

How to Face a Disaster? (2017)

1st Place

Curtains in the Breeze

• Nyri Bakkalian

2nd Place

80 Miles

• Beth J. Polazzo

3rd Place

It’s Not about Where You Break

• Kassandra M. Lighthouse

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Sweaty Armpits and Infinite To-Do Lists

• Jordann Cress

Love and Suicide

• Jan McDaniel

I am an Immigrant (2016)

1st Place

• Peter Ferguson Swarr

2nd Place

• Matthew Hawk Eldridge

3rd Place

• Valentina Locatelli

Honorable Mention

• Salma Hany Abdel Fattah

Honorable Mention

• Claudia Verona

Special Thanks

• Karina Nava-Melchor
• Ray Mwareya
• Lawrence Brazier
• Janette Conger
• Nuran Elif Öztürk

The Defining Theme of Our Age (2015)

How do you think history will record the 21st century?

1st Place

• Mariya Tytarenko

2nd Place

• Tony Mitchell

3rd Place

• Billy von Raven

Honorable Mention

• Deborah Moldow

Honorable Mention

• Serenity Jean Miller

You and Your 100-Year-Old Self (2014)

1st Place

• Elizabeth Allen

2nd Place

• Matt Hritz

3rd Place

• Philip Golabuk

Honorable Mention

• Tarbia Hamid

Honorable Mention

• Jean Blanchard

What Is Your Motto? (2013)

1st Place

• Magdalena Rusanova

2nd Place

• Noble Lee

3rd Place

• Janet Fichter

Honorable Mention

• Caroline Lancaster

Honorable Mention

• Elizabeth Harmatys Park

The Last 72 (2010 )

1st Place

• Joseph J. SALTER

2nd Place

• Ha-Thanh NGUYEN

3rd Place

• Joanna BODNAR

Honorable Mention

• Belinda STURGILL

Honorable Mention

• Kimberly PARKER

We at The Fountain believe that every voice should be heard, and that every challenge should be respected and can offer insight into our own lives.

We all face new challenges in our lives. They can be massive undertakings, such as moving across a country and beginning a new school. Or sometimes the more routine tasks, such as getting out of the bed in the morning while undergoing depression, can themselves be massive challenges.

We want to hear about your challenges and how you mentally, physically, and/or spiritually prepare for them.

How do you find strength when you feel it does not exist? And what have you learned, or are learning, from your challenges?

• Deadline for submissions: March 1, 2020
• Contest open to all writers worldwide
• Ideal word count to be between 1,500 and 2,500
• Submit yours at https://forms.gle/pQj93gNvZiDGd4GaA.
• The winners and the essays of the previous contests can be found at The Fountain Essay Contests

Submissions start:

November 1, 2019

Deadline for submissions:

March 1, 2020

Winners announced:

May 31, 2020

Cash prizes:

• 1st Place – $1,000
• 2nd Place – $500
• 3rd Place – $300
• Two Honorable Mentions – $150 each

Frequently Asked Questions

• THEME
• REFERENCES
• WORD COUNT
• STYLE
• PUBLISHING
• NUMBER OF ENTRY
• DISQUALIFICATION
• EVALUATION
• SUBMISSION
• DEADLINE
• WINNERS
• ELIGIBILITY

THEME

What qualifies a good essay?

An essay that you feel your heart rests more comfortably on. The more concise an essay, the more acceptable it is. Its authenticity and uniqueness, and how elaborately you put your theme into words so that others are inspired from it.

REFERENCES

Do we have to include references, bibliography, notes, etc. as in an academic journal?

The Fountain is not a journal. Thus, we do not expect a full scale reference list for all the information you provide. But, we encourage contributors to provide at least a reasonable number of references (not more than four or five) especially for the arguments borrowed from other sources, as it would make your work more reliable. If the kind of information you provide needs citation, please provide it; but essays with lengthy references are not preferred. Some reference and recommendations for further reading may help readers who are interested in the essay. Accuracy of data is expected in essays in which information provided needs sourcing. An essay based on personal experience does not require citation, and it is equally acceptable.

WORD COUNT

Does the word count limit include the bibliography or just the essay itself?

The Fountain is not a full-scale academic journal, so we expect authors to keep references to a maximum of four or five. Notes can be more. References and notes do not make a big change in word count which is advised to be between 1,500 and 2,500. A range is always necessary to be able to have an objective measure in terms of size.

STYLE

What kind of writing style do you expect? Can we use informal phrases? Is this essay supposed to be a personal opinion piece, or more of a scholarly supported article?

In writing style, we mainly seek consistency. We prefer the Chicago Manual of Style, but if you are more familiar with another style, that is also acceptable. Some informal usage can be OK in a certain essay, but not in another. It is basically the author’s call.

Would an essay in the short story genre qualify for the contest?

As long as your theme is skillfully woven through its structure, and if it upholds The Fountain’s values and principles, yes.

PUBLISHING

Are you going to publish submitted essays anywhere?

We might publish submissions in The Fountain, both the print and web editions, even if the essays did not win any prize. By submitting your essay to this contest, you agree that you give permission to The Fountain to publish it in any medium.

As the copyright holders before published, the authors have the right to submit their work elsewhere on condition that they notify The Fountain in advance.

NUMBER OF ENTRY

Can I submit more than one essay?

No. One entry per person.

DISQUALIFICATION

What makes an essay disqualified?

1. Offensive and devotional essays—particularly essays that emphasize superiority of a specific worldview or derogating a specific worldview—will not be considered for the Grand Prize. Essays that “propagate” a certain spiritual order, a religious denomination, a spiritual leader, or a political activist, etc. in a way that subordinates all other faiths and traditions are considered devotional and will be disqualified.
2. Title is missing – Do not forget to put a title. Title tells a lot about the essay and important for readers and reviewers to see what lies in the center of your message. Missing title will disqualify your submission.

EVALUATION

Who will determine the winners? Can you explain more specifically what you are looking for in a winner?

The winners will be determined by our board who will decide according to the literary effectiveness of the essay in reflecting the philosophy behind the motto, richness in content, and authenticity.

All submitted essays will be evaluated using the following criteria.

1. Relevance to the contest theme (40 points)
2. Innovation & creativity (30 points)
3. Writing style and structure (30 points)

SUBMISSION

How am I going to submit my essay?

Fill out the form, attach your document and send it. You can do it at https://forms.gle/pQj93gNvZiDGd4GaA.

DEADLINE

When is the last day for submissions?

March 1, 2020

WINNERS

When will the winners be announced?

May 31, 2020.

ELIGIBILITY

Who is eligible to participate in this contest?

There is no age limit or a condition to fulfill for entry. The contest is open to all who want to share his or her ideas with us.

The Fountain 2018 Essay Contest

And here come the winners!

Annually organized The Fountain Essay Contest has been drawing thousands of talented writers from the United States and around the world. “Should we be grateful?” was the theme of the 2018 contest, and it was a challenge for us to select the winners out of many well-written essays. We congratulate every one for participating and sharing their stories and wisdom with us.

1^st Place
Celine Dan Tam Nguyen
“Grateful for A Soldier’s War”

2^nd Place
Gaye Brown
“At Least”

3^rd Place
Judy Ann Eichstedt
“Homeless”

Honorable Mention
Jessica Gurgick
“Grateful for Death”

Honorable Mention
Kimberly Moore
“What Do You Say?”

Here is the list of The Fountain Essay Contest 2018 participants who made into the shortlist. Winners will be announced on May 31.

• Opportunity Found in My Mother’s Hands
  By Eirene Vorhees

• A Journey
  By Reema Shafi

• At Least
  By Gaye Brown

• Beyond the Gate
  By Jacqueline Lucero

• All for the Children of Brubus
  By Patrick Finley

• Gratitude in the Face of Turmoil
  By Amir Salaam

• The Art of Being Grateful
  By Kalpana Sharma

• Grateful for A Soldier’s War
  By Celine Dan Tam Nguyen

• Gratitude: The Attitude that Matters Most
  By Sai Marie Johnson

• Gratitude: Not A Choice
  By Katharine Dasek

• Should We Be Grateful
  By Joana Godwin

• Grateful for Death
  By Jessica Gurgick

• Healing through Gratitude
  By Lisa Gomley

• Daddy’s Girl
  By Jennifer A. Sun

• What Do You Say?
  By Kimberly Moore

• Role Reversal: When My 5-Year-Old Student Became My Teacher
  By Purvee Chauhan

• On Being a Grateful Soul
  By R. H. Dorsey

• Grateful
  By Mikaela Bagdassarian

• Homeless
  By Judy Ann Eichstedt

• Taken for Gratitude
  By L. Dudzik

• Thank You. Sincerely, Me
  By Alicia Reynolds

• What Are You Grateful for?
  By Debbie Lam

• How Gratitude Makes Humanity Human
  By Lauren Wallenfelsz

Should We Be Grateful?

Submissions to be posted

October 1, 2018 – March 1, 2019

www.fountainmagazine.com

That perfect cup of coffee in the morning. Seeing an old friend for the first time in years. A big meal with your family. All of them make us feel grateful – grateful for loved ones and grateful to be alive. Gratitude is an important part of the human experience. And it’s not only for people; animals show gratitude to those who care for them.

The question is: Why do we feel grateful? What should be we grateful for? And even, should we still be grateful when we’re depressed or when our lives are a mess? For this year’s Essay Contest, we want to hear from you. What are you grateful for? Who are you grateful to? Are you grateful? We can’t wait to read your responses.

• Deadline for submissions: March 1, 2019
• Contest open to all writers worldwide
• Essay word count must be between 1,500 and 2,500
• For submissions use this link The Fountain Magazine Essay Contest 2018

Cash prizes:

• 1st Place – $1,000
• 2nd Place – $500
• 3rd Place – $300
• Two Honorable Mentions – $150 each

Frequently Asked Questions

THEME
REFERENCES
WORD COUNT
STYLE
PUBLISHING
NUMBER OF ENTRY
DISQUALIFICATION
EVALUATION
SUBMISSION
DEADLINE
WINNERS
ELIGIBILITY

THEME

What qualifies a good essay?

An essay that you feel your heart rests more comfortably on. The more concise an essay, the more acceptable it is. Its authenticity and uniqueness, and how elaborately you put your theme into words so that others are inspired from it.

REFERENCES

Do we have to include references, bibliography, notes, etc. as in an academic journal?

The Fountain is not a journal. Thus, we do not expect a full scale reference list for all the information you provide. But, we encourage contributors to provide at least a reasonable number of references (not more than four or five) especially for the arguments borrowed from other sources, as it would make your work more reliable. If the kind of information you provide needs citation, please provide it; but essays with lengthy references are not preferred. Some reference and recommendations for further reading may help readers who are interested in the essay. Accuracy of data is expected in essays in which information provided needs sourcing. An essay based on personal experience does not require citation, and it is equally acceptable.

WORD COUNT

Does the word count limit include the bibliography or just the essay itself?

The Fountain is not a full-scale academic journal, so we expect authors to keep references to a maximum of four or five. Notes can be more. References and notes do not make a big change in word count which is advised to be between 1,500 and 2,500. A range is always necessary to be able to have an objective measure in terms of size.

STYLE

What kind of writing style do you expect? Can we use informal phrases? Is this essay supposed to be a personal opinion piece, or more of a scholarly supported article?

In writing style, we mainly seek consistency. We prefer the Chicago Manual of Style, but if you are more familiar with another style, that is also acceptable. Some informal usage can be OK in a certain essay, but not in another. It is basically the author’s call.

Would an essay in the short story genre qualify for the contest?

As long as your theme is skillfully woven through its structure, and if it upholds The Fountain’s values and principles, yes.

PUBLISHING

Are you going to publish submitted essays anywhere?

We might publish submissions in The Fountain, both the print and web editions, even if the essays did not win any prize. By submitting your essay to this contest, you agree that you give permission to The Fountain to publish it in any medium.

NUMBER OF ENTRY

Can I submit more than one essay?

No. One entry per person.

DISQUALIFICATION

What makes an essay disqualified?

1. Offensive and devotional essays—particularly essays that emphasize superiority of a specific worldview or derogating a specific worldview—will not be considered for the Grand Prize. Essays that “propagate” a certain spiritual order, a religious denomination, a spiritual leader, or a political activist, etc. in a way that subordinates all other faiths and traditions are considered devotional and will be disqualified.
2. Title is missing – Do not forget to put a title. Title tells a lot about the essay and important for readers and reviewers to see what lies in the center of your message. Missing title will disqualify your submission.
3. If the word count exceeds the 2,500 limit by more than 200 words, or if it is less than 900 words, your essay will be disqualified.

EVALUATION

Who will determine the winners? Can you explain more specifically what you are looking for in a winner?

The winners will be determined by our board who will decide according to the literary effectiveness of the essay in reflecting the philosophy behind the motto, richness in content, and authenticity.

All submitted essays will be evaluated using the following criteria.

1. Relevance to the contest theme (40 points)
2. Innovation & creativity (30 points)
3. Writing style and structure (30 points)

SUBMISSION

How am I going to submit my essay?

Fill out the form, attach your document and send it.

DEADLINE

When is the last day for submissions?

March 1, 2019

WINNERS

When will the winners be announced?

April 30, 2019.

ELIGIBILITY

Who is eligible to participate in this contest?

There is no age limit or a condition to fulfill for entry. The contest is open to all who want to share his or her ideas with us.

THE FOUNTAIN ESSAY CONTESTS

How to Face a Disaster?
2017

I am an Immigrant
2016

The Defining Theme of Our Age
How do you think history will record the 21st century?
2015

You and Your 100-Year-Old Self
Celebrating The Fountain’s 100^th issue
2014

What Is Your Motto?
2013

The Last 72
2010

How to Face a Disaster?
2017

FIRST PLACE

• Curtains in the Breeze
  Nyri Bakkalian

SECOND PLACE

• 80 Miles
  Beth J. Polazzo

THIRD PLACE

• It’s Not about Where You Break
  Kassandra M. Lighthouse

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Sweaty Armpits and Infinite To-Do Lists
  Jordann Cress
• Love and Suicide
  Jan McDaniel

I AM AN IMMIGRANT
2016

First Place

• Peter Ferguson Swarr

Second Place

• Matthew Hawk Eldridge

Third Place

• Valentina Locatelli

Honorable Mention

• Salma Hany Abdel Fattah
• Claudia Verona

Special Thanks

• Karina Nava-Melchor
• Ray Mwareya
• Lawrence Brazier
• Janette Conger
• Nuran Elif Öztürk

The Defining Theme of Our Age
How do you think history will record the 21st century?
2015

First Place

• Mariya Tytarenko

Second Place

• Tony Mitchell

Third Place

• Billy von Raven

Honorable Mention

• Deborah Moldow
• Serenity Jean Miller

You and Your 100-Year-Old Self
2014

1st Place

• Elizabeth Allen

2nd Place

• Matt Hritz

3rd Place

• Philip Golabuk

Honorable Mention

• Tarbia Hamid
• Jean Blanchard

What Is Your Motto?
2013

First Place

• Magdalena Rusanova

Second Place

• Noble Lee

Third Place

• Janet Fichter

Honorable Mention

• Caroline Lancaster
• Elizabeth Harmatys Park

THE LAST 72
2010

First Place

• Joseph J. SALTER

Second Place

• Ha-Thanh NGUYEN

Third Place

• Joanna BODNAR

Honorable Mention

• Belinda STURGILL
• Kimberly PARKER

The article’s title; author’s full name, address, phone number, and e-mail address; educational background, university affiliation, other publications; the length of the article (the number of pages and words); and a brief abstract (150 words or less) should be provided. Articles should not be less than 1,500-2,000 words.

Proper sources, citations, and endnotes according to the Chicago Manual of Style should be provided. If another style is used, all citations must be consistent. Alphabetize bibliographical references in endnotes. References must contain: Author, (year of publication), title, place of publication, publisher, and page numbers. Citations within the text must be in the Harvard style: Author surname, year, page number(s). Quotations from the Sacred Books must be italicized. Provide the chapter’s name and number, and the number of the verse(s). Send original illustrations or photos in hardcopy, or on disk in Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator formats.

As The Fountain is intended for general readers, please do not use jargon, region-specific, or technical terms. Non-English or unfamiliar words may be explained in a glossary, or translated/explained immediately after the word.

The opinions and views expressed by The Fountain’s contributors and editors are their own, and do not necessarily express The Fountain’s viewpoint or position. The Fountain does not accept responsibility for views expressed in articles or other contributions that appear in its pages.

All materials presented on The Fountain Magazine Web site are protected by international trademark and copyright laws and must only be used for personal, non-commercial purposes.

Requests for permission to reproduce or distribute materials found on this site can be made by contacting The Fountain Magazine in writing at:

For all inquiries:

The Fountain Magazine

345 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07011 USA

Tel: +1 888 234 2823

Fax: +1 (973) 457-7334

E-mail: contact@fountainmagazine.com

Copyright.com is operated by Copyright Clearance Center, a global rights broker that promotes the seamless sharing of knowledge by creating innovative licensing solutions that let academic institutions, businesses, and individuals quickly get permission to use copyright-protected materials while compensating authors, publishers, and other content creators for the use of their works.

The Fountain is a composition, one in which each and every member of the human family can hear his or her conscience’s calling, a reflection of what is not always visible to the eye, or a response to the yearning deep in the heart and mind; a response that sometimes finds its definition best expressed in a poem, and at other times in a journey into outer space or through the veins of the human body. It is reading the universe, the major book of creation, and making sense out of it by way of the manual of Divine guidance.

The Fountain is an effort to try and see the reality through the veils of apparent causes and to obtain our share from each phenomenon, each of which is a letter enclosed with a message addressing us.

The Fountain covers the following themes:

• analytical articles on religious and scientific topics
• reviews for books about new and contemporary issues
• answers for frequently asked questions

The Fountain prefers to publish articles which:

• encourage scientific discovery that is in the service of humanity,
• popularize scientific topics for average readers, rather than addressing to a field-specific audience,
• promote altruism and devotion to positive action,
• adopt a multicultural approach, aiming to find a consensus on universal human values,

• serve to break the stereotyped images in minds about different cultures and faiths, and provide guidance in a world of cultural diversity,
• accept everybody as they are, encouraging dialogue in society and preventing the idea of the other,
• underline that terror has nothing whatsoever to do with religious faith,

• do not deal with temporary agendas, like politics, but promote actuality instead.

Note: The explanations above aim to exemplify the type of topics with which the magazine is concerned in order to help brainstorming. Please do not feel restricted about writing on any other topic that may be suitable for the magazine.

STYLE CONVENTIONS

The editors reserve the right to edit and correct all articles. The essence of the article will be maintained. If there are numerous stylistic inconsistencies, the article will be returned to the author for further review and resubmission.

The article’s title; author’s full name, address, phone number, and e-mail address; educational background, university affiliation, other publications; the length of the article (the number of pages and words); and a brief abstract (150 words or less) should be provided. Articles should not be less than 1,500-2,000 words.

Proper sources, citations, and endnotes according to the Chicago Manual of Style should be provided. If another style is used, all citations must be consistent. Alphabetize bibliographical references in endnotes. References must contain: Author, (year of publication), title, place of publication, publisher, and page numbers. Citations within the text must be in the Harvard style: Author surname, year, page number(s). Quotations from the Sacred Books must be italicized. Provide the chapter’s name and number, and the number of the verse(s). Send original illustrations or photos in hardcopy, or on disk in Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator formats.

As The Fountain is intended for general readers, please do not use jargon, region-specific, or technical terms. Non-English or unfamiliar words may be explained in a glossary, or translated/explained immediately after the word.

The opinions and views expressed by The Fountain’s contributors and editors are their own, and do not necessarily express The Fountain’s viewpoint or position. The Fountain does not accept responsibility for views expressed in articles or other contributions that appear in its pages.

Please send your submissions to editorial@fountainmagazine.com.

Mission

The mission of The Fountain Writers Society (FWS) is to actively help and support the interests of new and emerging writers and the communities they serve.

Goals

• To bring together a group of talented writers who can display their gifts and exchange ideas through open-minded discussions and debates
• To provide an informal forum for writers to express themselves freely and comfortably 
• To cultivate an environment where writers of all abilities and ideologies, and of all faiths and backgrounds, can express themselves without being shunned or embarrassed
• To offer encouragement and support to writers of all levels of experience
• To become the first point of contact for writers seeking information, advice, and representation
• To facilitate contact between writers so that they can support and encourage one another
• To provide writers the opportunity to get their works published in The Fountain magazine
• To establish a “Fountain  writer’s guide” and a “Fountain style Guide” so that new writers will find it easier to get started

Activities

The Fountain Writers Society (FWS) provides numerous activities which include:

• Reading circles and feedback sessions
• Creative writing exercises 
• Mini-workshops and panels 
• Lectures by guest-speakers

Meetings

The Fountain Writers Society (FWS) has meetings monthly (two per month if the schedule permits)

Membership

Membership is by invitation only.