Wisconsin Academy - Writing Contest

Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine (formerly the Wisconsin Academy Review) is accepting submissions for its annual short story and poetry contests, with a deadline of December 4, 2006. Awards include cash prizes, publication in Wisconsin People & Ideas, and the opportunity for winners to read their work at the Wisconsin Book Festival and other venues.

New this year--for the poetry contest only--is the theme of farming and rural life in Wisconsin. Poets are invited to compose works relating to Wisconsin’s evolving agricultural and rural heritage and identity. Contest judges are not looking for the sentimental, but for an honest exploration, in poetry, of what farming or rural life means to you. For background information and possible inspiration, learn about the Wisconsin Academy’s “Future of Farming and Rural Life in Wisconsin” initiative, www.wisconsinacademy.org

The short fiction contest remains unthemed; stories about any topic are welcome. Winners of the Harry W. Schwartz/Wisconsin People & Ideas Short Story Contest receive prizes of $500 (first place), $250 (second place), and $100 (third place). Their works will be published serially in Wisconsin People & Ideas beginning with the first-prize story in the summer 2007 issue. The lead judge is novelist, essayist, and poet Charles Baxter, author of a number of critically acclaimed works including “The Feast of Love,” “Saul and Patsy,” and “Believers.” As an added bonus, the first-place story will be read and reviewed by a literary agent of national note.

Winners of the Wisconsin People & Ideas Poetry Contest receive the following prizes: first place ($500, as the John Lehman Poetry Award); $100 (second place); and $50 (third place), in addition to such other prizes as studio time to record a CD of their poetry. Winning poems by the top three prize-winners appear in the spring 2007 edition of Wisconsin People & Ideas, with 10 runners-up in the summer 2007 issue. Lead judge for the poetry contest is poet Bruce Taylor.

The top three winners of both contests will be invited to read their work at a special event at the Wisconsin Book Festival in October 2007.

SHORT STORY CONTEST RULES
1. Authors must reside in or attend school in Wisconsin.
2. Stories must be between 2,500 and 5,000 words in length.
3. Authors must submit three copies of a story (photocopies are fine).
4. Each story must be accompanied by a $15 entry fee (non-Academy members) or $10 (Academy members, including those who join now) payable to Wisconsin People & Ideas Short Story Contest.
5. Writers may submit more than one entry, but each story must be mailed in separately with its own cover letter (see Rule 9) and entry fee.
6. Entries must be postmarked on or before December 4, 2006. Entries may be hand-delivered to the Wisconsin Academy (1922 University Avenue, Madison) by 4 p.m. on December 4.
7. Previously published stories (electronically or in print) are not eligible.
8. Each manuscript must be typed, double-spaced, in standard 10- or 12-point type. Each page must include the title of the story as a header. All pages must be numbered with both an individual page number and the total number of pages (e.g., Stormy Night, page 1/15, Stormy Night, page 2/15, Stormy Night, page 3/15, etc.).
9. The author’s name may not appear anywhere on the manuscript itself. The manuscript must be accompanied by a letter bearing the story title; the author’s name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address (if available); and the story word count. Every contestant must be able to provide an electronic version of the story if needed, either on disk or via e-mail.
10. Keep a copy of your manuscript. Manuscripts will be recycled, not returned. Do not send an SASE.
11. Contest winners will be announced on our website by the end of March.

POETRY CONTEST RULES
1. Poets must reside or attend school in Wisconsin.
2. Poets may submit up to three poems per entry. No poem may be longer than one page. PLEASE NOTE THIS YEAR’S THEME BEFORE SUBMITTING.
3. Each entry must be accompanied by an entry fee of $6 (non-Academy members) or $4 (Academy members, including those who join now) payable to the Wisconsin People & Ideas Poetry Contest. Nonmembers: A check for $12 covers the $6 entry fee and a copy of the award issue, which we will mail to you. (Members receive the magazine automatically.)
4. A poet may enter more than one submission of up to three poems each, but additional submissions must be accompanied by a separate entry fee and cover letter. (See Rule 7.)
5. Contest deadline is December 4. Entries may be hand-delivered to the Wisconsin Academy (1922 University Avenue, Madison) by 4 p.m. on December 4. Entries postmarked after the deadline will not be considered and the entry fee will be retained to cover handling.
6. Previously published poems (in print or electronically) are not eligible. All work must be original. Any style or theme is welcome.
7. The poet’s name or address may not appear anywhere on the poems. Poems must be accompanied by a cover letter bearing the poem title/s, the poet’s name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address (if available).
8. Keep a copy of your poems. Entries will be recycled, not returned. Do not send an SASE.
9. Contest winners will be announced on our website (www.wisconsinacademy.org) and notified by the end of February 2007. Winning poetry will be published in the spring 2007 issue of Wisconsin People & Ideas, which appears at the end of March, in time for National Poetry Month (April). Works by 10 runners-up will be published in the summer 2007 edition.