The deadline for The Pilot's current limerick contest is Sept. 30. Results will be published on Oct. 26. The leading line is: "Reality shows? How 'bout this..."

If possible, think of a reality show more ludicrous than today's current crop. Pilot columnist Joe Piper offers an example:

Reality shows? How 'bout this:

All husbands their wives they must kiss.

The game can get hot

'Cause she picks out the spot.

Some men grimace while others know bliss.

E-mail your verses to joelimericks@embarqmail.com. Or mail them to Limericks, The Pilot, P.O. Box 58, Southern Pines, NC 28388.

Fiction Contest

The North Carolina Writers' Network announces guidelines for the Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize competition.

The Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize honors internationally celebrated North Carolina novelist Thomas Wolfe. The winner receives $1,000 and possible publication in The Thomas Wolfe Review.

The final judge for the 2008 award is well-known editor Shannon Ravenel. Shannon Ravenel has had a long career in publishing, first as an editor at Houghton Mifflin, later as Series Editor of "The Best American Short Stories" for 13 years, and finally as a co-founder with Louis Rubin of Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, where she established the annual anthology "New Stories From the South." Currently, she directs her own Algonquin imprint, Shannon Ravenel Books.

The Thomas Wolfe Fiction competition is open to all writers without regard to geographical region or previous publication.

Entrants should submit two copies of an unpublished fiction manuscript not to exceed 12 double-spaced pages. Names should not appear on manuscripts, but on separate sheet along with address, phone number, email address and manuscript title. Entries will not be returned.

An entry fee must accompany manuscript: $15 for members of the NCWN, $25 for non-members.

"You may pay the member entry fee if you join the Network with your submission," says a spokesman.

The deadline is Saturday, Dec. 20.

Send submissions, indicating name of competition, to: Professor Anthony Abbott, P.O. Box 7096, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28036.

Tutor Training

The Moore County Literacy Council offers 12-hour workshops for volunteers who would like to become adult tutors. Volunteers are required to attend orientation prior to a training session.

All sessions this fall will be at the Emmanuel Youth House, 385 E. Indiana Avenue, Southern Pines.

Orientation will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30. Training is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, and Thursday, Oct. 9.

Donations will be accepted to defray the cost of materials.

"If you are attending the full day classes, please bring a lunch," says a spokesman. "Please register by the week prior to the session."

Registrations may be made by calling (910) 692-5954 or e-mail pammclc@nc.rr.com.

Fall Conference

Registration for the 2008 N.C. Writers' Network's fall conference is now open on its Web site, www.ncwriters.org.

This year's conference will be Nov. 14-16 at the Hilton RDU in Research Triangle Park, outside Durham.

Ron Rash, whose new novel, "Serena," will be released next month, will be the keynote speaker.

The deadline to register at the early registration rate ($250 for members, $350 for nonmembers) is Friday, Nov. 7.