English

English LogoDepartment of English Creative Writing Awards

Want to win cash prizes, awards, and automatic publication into Elements ? Submit your work to WIU's Creative Writing Awards judged by Professional Writers!

Requirement Archive: 2019 (pdf); 2018 (pdf); 2017 (pdf); 2016 (pdf)

See Past Winners: Creative Writing Winner Archive

Submission Requirements:

  1. Fill out the submission form:
    • Creative Writing Awards Submission Form
  2. Sign in with your WIU email and fill out contact information for your submissions
  3. Follow the requirements for each category when uploading your attachments
  4. Individuals will be limited one entry per category (one nonfiction/one fiction/three poems)
  5. Submit the electronic submission form by 4pm on day of the deadline (stated on submission form)
  6. If you have any questions, please contact the coordinator Dr. Ashley Beardsley, a-beardsley@wiu.edu.

Side Notes

  • Receive award certificate(s) & win cash prizes (between $50 - $350) for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place in each category
  • All entrants and their friends/family are invited to participate in the English awards ceremony in April to receive their cash prize(s) and award(s). Winning authors will be notified prior to this event and be given details on the ceremony
  • Winners will automatically be published in  Elements  (the magazine of creative work that WIU’s Department of English has been producing for over 50 years)

Lois C. Bruner Creative Nonfiction Award

All Western Illinois University undergraduates, regardless of major, are welcome to submit their nonfiction writing to the Lois C. Bruner Creative Nonfiction contest. Creative nonfiction can include essays about life experiences–though these may fit into any of the following categories: travelogue, memoir, biography, autobiography, nature writing, or cultural critique. Both voice and style will be weighed heavily in the judging.

  1. You may submit ONE essay of up to 5,000 words.
  2. Typed, double-spaced, word document format only
  3. Attachment upload should be saved as: [TheYear]-Nonfiction-[YourTitle]
  4. Don't have your name in your submission document
  5. You will not be able to edit your attachment after submission (so make sure you submit correct one and follow instructions)
  6. Work must be your own!

Cordell Larner Award in Fiction

All Western Illinois University undergraduates, regardless of major, are welcome to submit their fiction to the Cordell Larner Award in Fiction contest. Fiction can include stories about anything and everything you desire.

  1. You may submit ONE fiction piece of up to 5,000 words.
  2. Typed, double-spaced, word document format only
  3. Attachment upload should be saved as: [TheYear]-Fiction-[YourTitle]
  4. Don't have your name in your submission document
  5. You will not be able to edit your attachment after submission (so make sure you submit correct one and follow instructions)
  6. Work must be your own!

Cordell Larner Award in Poetry

All Western Illinois University undergraduates, regardless of major, are welcome to submit their poetry to the Cordell Larner Award in Poetry contest. Poetry can include poems in any form/style.

  1. You may submit up to 3 poems (each poem a separate attachment)
  2. Typed, single spaced, word document format only
  3. Attachment upload should be saved as: [TheYear]-Poetry-[YourTitle]
  4. Don't have your name in your submission document
  5. You will not be able to edit your attachment after submission (so make sure you submit correct one and follow instructions)
  6. Work must be your own!