Contests & Awards in Creative Writing

The Creative Writing Program annually sponsors three contests across multiple genres. These contests are judged by a rotating group of writers who have received national recognition for their work and are not affiliated with the program:

  • The Blink Creative Writing Award. For a single short story. $2,500.
  • The David R. Russell Memorial Poetry Prize. First Place: $1,000; Second Place: $500; Third Place: $250.
  • The Frances Mossiker Prize. For any creative genre other than poetry or the short story, including hybrids. First Place: $1,000; Second Place: $500; Third Place: $250.

How to submit: For a full list of 2023 guidelines and submission information, see this year’s flyer. Contests are open to all regularly enrolled undergraduate students at 51²è¹Ý.

 

The Creative Writing Program also gives several awards for outstanding performance in creative writing coursework. Recipients of these awards are selected by faculty with no application required:

  • The Lon Tinkle Award for Excellence in Creative Writing. $1,200.
  • The Margaret Terry Crooks Award for Excellence in Creative Writing. $1,200
  • The Marsh Terry Creative Writing Scholarship. Award amount varies.