Entries are being accepted through Dec. 10 for The Great American Song Contest sponsored by the Portland, Oregon-based Songwriters Resource Network. Forty-five awards will be presented in nine different categories – including contemporary acoustic/folk, instrumental, special category music and lyrics only.

The Great American Song Contest is open to amateur and semi-professional songwriters whose entries are evaluated by music industry professionals based on the song, not the performance or quality of the recording. Criteria used in judging include creative and engaging lyrics, effective and memorable melodies, and the overall success of the songwriting technique. In addition to competing for $10,000 in prizes, all songwriters who submit songs will receive written evaluations from the contest judges whose bios appear on the contest’s website, www.greatamericansong.com. There is a $30 entry fee per song, and entries may be submitted either by mail or online.

Canadian songwriter Carmel Mikol of Halifax, Nova Scotia captured first place in the contest’s contemporary acoustic/folk category last year, while four other amateur and semi-pro songwriters were recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting in that category.