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ILLINOIS EMERGING WRITERS COMPETITION
General Information
The purpose of the Illinois Emerging Writers Competition is to promote creative writing, encourage local writers while providing a unique opportunity and outlet for recognizing new literary talent. Winners receive cash prizes and have their works submitted for review and possible publication in the Illinois literary magazines -- Downstate Story, Ninth Letter, Quiddity, RHINO and Springfield Poets and Writers. The final judges of the competition are Kevin Stein, the Illinois Poet Laureate for the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award and Kaylie Jones, the talented writer and daughter of celebrated Illinois author James Jones for the James Jones Short Story Award.
Judging and Judges
Many literary professionals take time out of their busy schedules to help judge the competition. Thanks to all of the following who donate their time and talent to the judging process: Shelly Brennecke, Dwight Connelly, Kim Cox, Melissa Dessent, Leslie DuFresne, Ray Elliott, Wanda Fisher, Maureen Flannery, Lindsay Harmon, Renee Jensen, Rosemary Johnsen, Allan Johnston, Judy Jordan, Allen Lanham, Elsie Martinez, Elise Miller, Rashidah Jaami Muhammad, Rosina Neginsky, Lee Newton, Kevin Stein – the Illinois Poet Laureate, Christy Stillwell, Christine Swanberg, Mary Tuytschaevers and Annette Van Dyke.
Brief History
In 2005, the first year of the Illinois Emerging
Writers Competition, the competition was solely
dedicated to poetry and the Illinois Center for
the Book partnered with
Kevin Stein (http://www.bradley.edu/poet/),
the Illinois Poet Laureate (http://poetlaureate.il.gov/).
In 2006, the Illinois Center for the Book
also partnered with the James Jones Literary
Society (http://rking.vinu.edu/j.htm)
to offer a short story award. Thanks to Kevin
Stein, the Illinois Poet Laureate and the
generous funding from the James Jones Literary
Society, the Illinois Emerging Writers
Competition now offers two awards - the
Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award and the James
Jones Short Story Award.
Questions
2010 Illinois Emerging Writers Competition
The 2010 Competition is in the judging phase. The deadline to enter was June 30, 2010. Winners will be announced in late October 2010.
Forms & Guidelines: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/lda96.pdf Informational Flyer -- Please feel free to post: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/lda97.pdf 2009 Illinois Emerging Writers CompetitionIllinois Emerging Writers Awards Ceremony
Thursday, November 19, 2009 at the Illinois State Library Gwendolyn Brooks Building
Left to Right: Illinois Poet Laureate, Kevin Stein; 1st Place Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award Winner, Vincent Francone; Secretary of State and State Librarian, Jesse White; 3rd Place Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award Winner, Mary Hotlen; 1st Place James Jones Short Story Winner, Baird Harper; 2nd Place James Jones Short Story Winner, Colby Cuppernull; James Jones Literary Society Past President, Ray Elliott
- 1st place - Baird Harper of Chicago for his story Futures
- 2nd place - Colby Cuppernull of Chicago for his story At the End of the Day
- 3rd place - Deanna Sue Cording of Galena for her story Driving Lessons
- 1st place - Vincent Francone of Chicago for his poem Chicago
- 2nd place - Valerie Wallace of Chicago for her poem The Poem Stays
- 3rd place - Mary Hotlen of Rockford for her poem Year of Psalms
- 1st place - Peggy Stortz of Galena for her story Night Visitor
- 2nd place - John Gabriel of Joliet for his story Just Sort of Out of Sight
- 3rd place - John J. Flaherty of Bloomingdale for his story BUMS
- 1st place - Thea Chesley of Springfield for her poem Rendezvous, Rue de Ursulines
- 2nd place - Peggy Davis of Mt. Vernon for her poem Bearing Witness
- 3rd place - Fawn Hoener of Springfield for her poem Hot Flash
James Jones Short Story Award winners
- 1st place - Lorie Kolak of Chicago for her story Her Terrible Singing Voice and Love of Singing
- 2nd place - Andrew Gregory Krzak of New Lenox for his story 24 Frames
- 3rd place - Joseph A. Woods of Park Forest for his story Black Shines
- 1st place - Mary Lucille Hays of White Heath for her poem Tippet Hill
- 2nd place - Samira Grace Didos of Urbana for her poem Antiques
- 3rd place - Samira Grace Didos of Urbana for her poem Fear of Laughter
2006 Competition
Update
Congratulations to 2006 winners
Anthony
Coman of DeKalb and Susan Srikant of Urbana. Both
of their winning entries are being published.
Anthony was the 1st place winner of the Gwendolyn Brooks
Poetry Award. His winning poem titled House will be
published by RHINO magazine. Look for Anthony's poem
in the April 2008 Edition of RHINO.
Susan was the 3rd place winner of the James
Jones Short Story Award. Her wining story titled My
Arrival in Horseshoe, Nevada will be published by Downstate Story magazine. Look for Susan’s story in
Volume 16 of the 2007 Edition of Downstate Story.
To read Anthony's and Susan's award-winning works, click on
their names in the winners box below.
2006 Winners
James Jones
Short Story Award
Gwendolyn Brooks
Poetry Award
Listen to the 2006 Poetry Winners read their winning poems
2005 Winners and Poems
Listen to the 2005 Poetry Winners read their winning poems