The Norman Mailer Writers Colony and the National Council of Teachers of English are pleased to invite submissions for the 2011 Norman Mailer High School and College Writing Awards for Creative Nonfiction. We hope you will encourage your students to apply.
PRIZES
Cash prizes of $5,000 to $10,000 will be awarded to National Winners. Four finalists in each category will be awarded trophies. Sixteen semifinalists in each category will be awarded certificates. Winners receive travel and lodging to attend the Colony’s National Award Ceremony.
Submission Guidelines
CATEGORY
Norman Mailer produced extraordinary works in many genres, including the category of this year’s award: Creative Nonfiction. Students may submit work in any of the subgenres of creative nonfiction: memoir or autobiography, essay, literary journalism, profiles of people or places, and so on. Whatever its type, the best work will be true material presented with compelling literary merit.
ELIGIBILITY, PAGE LENGTH, and DEADLINES
Entries accepted online only March 1 – April 28, 2011, Noon CST.
- High School Competition is open to all high school students. Students may submit one or more pieces of writing, maximum 10 single-spaced pages, endorsed by a teacher and released by a parent or guardian. Cash award of $5,000.
- Two-Year College Competition is open to first- and second-year full-time students enrolled in a community college, junior college, technical college. Maximum 15 single-spaced pages. Cash award of $5,000.
- Four-Year College Competition is open to current full-time students. Maximum 15 single-spaced pages. The college winner receives a scholarship to the Norman Mailer Writers Colony during the summer of 2012 and cash award of $10,000.
For complete submission guidelines and judging criteria, or to submit an entry, visit the NCTE website. Please email any questions to nmw@ncte.org.