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Silver Quill Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why should I enter my work in Silver Quill?
A: You can:
- Benchmark your work against the best practices in organizational communication.
- Obtain a valuable critique of your entries from experienced professionals in the field.
- Learn or practice a disciplined method for achieving excellence in communications.
- Enhance your stature within your organization and impress potential employers/clients with the quality of your entry.
- Use your entries for the required work samples when you apply for professional accreditation.
- Submit your winning Silver Quill entry in IABC's International Gold Quill competition. (Note: Winning the Silver Quill is not a pre-requisite for entering work in Gold Quill.)
Q: Who should enter?
A: Previous winners come from all areas of the business and communication arena:
- Communication professionals
- Publication editors
- Writers
- Designers
- Photographers
- Illustrators
- Audiovisual producers
- Electronic media producers
Q: Who is eligible?
A: IABC members and non-members working in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas may enter.
The entrant listed on the entry form must have had direct and primary involvement in implementing the project submitted. Agencies are welcome to enter work done on behalf of their clients, but you may not submit work under someone else's name.
Q: Can I enter the same work more than once?
A: You may submit the same work in as many categories as apply. Tailor your summary to fit each category you enter. Submit a separate entry for each category and enclose the full entry fee for each category the work is submitted under.
Q: Can I list more than one entrant?
A: List only one entrant and the entrant's organization on the entry form. If your entry wins an award, you will have the opportunity to order additional Awards of Excellence and Awards of Merit for the other principals.
Q: How do I enter?
A: For each entry:
- Choose the appropriate division and category
- Complete the entry form
- Complete a work summary
- Assemble a work sample
Q: How many awards will be given?
A: All entries which receive exceptional scores from the judges will receive an Award of Excellence. Entries which receive superlative scores will receive an Award of Merit. There is no minimum or maximum number of awards that will be given. If entries in a category do not meet the judges' criteria for Excellence or Merit, then no award will be made in that category.
Q: Will I be notified that my entry has been received?
A: It is your responsibility to send your entry and payment by a form of traceable delivery if you want confirmation of receipt.
Q: Who judges the entries?
A: Professional communicators from IABC chapters in U.S. regions other than Southern Region provide their time and expertise.
Q: How do judges score the entries?
A: The work summary and work samples are each worth 50 percent of the score. Two judges are asked to evaluate each entry. Judges look first for evidence of careful planning and documentation of an entry's success through well-defined objectives with measurable results. They consider how well a program is conceived, created and executed for its intended audiences, and how appropriate the strategy and objectives are in relation to the results desired and achieved.
Q: Can I submit several different entries?
A: You may submit as many different entries as you wish. Fill in a separate entry form for each entry, as well as the full fee for each.
Q: Will I receive feedback?
A: If you provide a SASE with your entry, you will receive a score sheet from each judge, identifying your entry's strengths and areas for improvement. In addition, judges are asked to provide brief written evaluations of each entry.
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