The Creative Writing Program invites you to submit your work to this year’s creative writing contests. There are serious cash prizes for the taking, not to mention praise and admiration from your peers. See here for a list of contests, along with details and guidelines: http://creativewriting.uconn.edu/writing-contests/
The deadline for all remaining contests is December 1!
Wallace Stevens Poetry Prize
Prizes: $1,000 (first); $500 (second); $250 (third)
Each year since 1964, a prominent poet has been invited to give a reading at the University of Connecticut as part of the Wallace Stevens Poetry Program. A student poetry contest is held in conjunction with that program. First, second, and third place cash prizes are awarded. Prize winners read from their work at the annual program, and winning poems will be published in the Long River Review.
Who’s Eligible: Undergraduate and graduate students from the University of Connecticut’s main and regional campuses, except previous first place winners.
Guidelines: Submit a single MS Word document containing the cover sheet followed by 5-8 pages of poems (cleanly typed, only one poem per page). This can be up to eight short poems, or several longer pieces. Please submit your work via e-mail following these guidelines. The subject line of the email must indicate the full name of the contest. Note that while your student ID number should appear on every page, your name should appear only on the cover sheet.
Aetna Translation Award
Prize: $250
Students may submit one poem or an excerpt from a longer prose piece (maximum 1,500 words) translated into English, along with the original language version. The submission should consist of one Word document attachment: your cover sheet and your translated piece including the original language version.
Collins Literary Prizes
Prizes: Varies Annually. The 2013–2014 awards were over $600 each
Awarded in memory of Edward R. and Frances S. Collins for the best undergraduate literary works. Two cash prizes are awarded, one in prose and one in poetry. Prize-winning works will be published in the Long River Review.
Who’s Eligible: Undergraduate students at the University of Connecticut’s main and regional campuses.
Guidelines: Please submit your work via e-mail following these guidelines. The subject line must include the full name of the contest and the genre of your submission (for example: “Collins Literary Prizes: poetry or prose”). The submission should consist of a single MS Word document that contains your cover sheet (see format) followed by your submission. (Note that while your student ID number should appear on every page of the packet, your name should appear only on the cover sheet.) Students may submit work in more than one genre but please do so in separate e-mails (in other words, do not include a short story and a poem in the same e-mail).
Jennie Hackman Memorial Award for Short Fiction
Prizes: $1,000 (first); $300 (second); $200 (third)
Awarded in memory of Jacob and Jennie Hackman for the best works of undergraduate short fiction. Up to three cash prizes awarded. Winning stories will be published in the Long River Review.
Who’s Eligible: Undergraduate students at the University of Connecticut’s main and regional campuses.
Guidelines: Please submit your work via e-mail following these guidelines. The subject line must include the name of the contest. The submission should consist of a single MS Word document that contains your cover sheet (see format) followed by your submission. Note that while your student ID number should appear on every page of the packet, your name should appear only on the cover sheet.
Aetna Creative Nonfiction Awards
Prizes: Graduate $200-500; Undergraduate: $200-500
One prize each for the best graduate and undergraduate works of creative nonfiction will be awarded. Winners will receive a cash prize and will read from their work at an evening program featuring a notable guest author. Undergraduate first place winner’s work will also be published in the Long River Review.
Who’s Eligible: Graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Connecticut’s main and regional campuses.
Guidelines: Students may submit one unpublished creative nonfiction work. Please submit your work via e-mail following these guidelines. The subject line must include the name of the contest and your student status (for example: “AETNA Creative Nonfiction Awards – undergraduate”). The submission should be a single MS Word document that contains your cover sheet (see format) followed by your submission. Note that while your student ID number should appear on every page of the packet, your name should appear only on the cover sheet.
Long River Graduate Writing Award
Prizes: $250
One cash prize awarded for the best piece of creative work in any genre written by a graduate student. The winning piece will be published in the Long River Review.
Who’s Eligible: Graduate students from any University of Connecticut department or campus.
Guidelines: Graduate students may submit prose pieces of up to 2,500 words, or for poetry, 1-3 poems. Please submit your work via e-mail following these guidelines. The subject line must include the full name of the contest and the genre of your submission (for example: “Long River Graduate Writing Award – poetry”). The submission should consist of a single MS Word document that contains your cover sheet (see format) followed by the submission. Note that while your student ID number should appear on every page of the packet, your name should appear only on the cover sheet.
Aetna Children’s Literature Award
Prize: Graduate or Undergraduate, $200
The winning piece will be published in Long River Review.
Who’s Eligible: Graduate and Undergraduate students from any University of Connecticut department or campus.
Guidelines: Please indicate whether you are submitting a manuscript for a picture book, a sample of children’s poetry or drama, or an excerpt from a middle-grade chapter book or a young adult novel. Limit of 3,000 words. Submit your work via e-mail following these guidelines. The subject line must include the full name of the contest and the genre of your submission (for example: “Collins Literary Prizes: poetry or prose”). The submission should consist of a single MS Word document that contains your cover sheet (see format) followed by the piece that you are submitting. Note that while your student ID number should appear on every page of the packet, your name should appear only on the cover sheet.
For more information, contact: Erick Piller at erick.piller@uconn.edu