Shepherd University’s Appalachian Heritage Literary Project announces the West Virginia Fiction Competition, a literary competition to encourage writers and storytellers, whose talent and ability in creative writing is distinctive and promising, and to foster an appreciation of Appalachian culture and values represented in the diverse writing of the region. Submissions are encouraged from any resident of West Virginia or student in West Virginia who meets the criteria below. Click here to view a list of past Fiction Competition winners.
Who can submit? Any resident of West Virginia or student attending school in West Virginia.
What are the limitations upon submissions? Any original, unpublished work of fiction, 5,000 word maximum, double spaced, one submission only. The submission may not have received any other award, recognition, or special honor.
What is the deadline for submissions? May 1, 2020
Where should submissions be mailed?
West Virginia Fiction Competition
c/o Dr. Sylvia Bailey Shurbutt
Shepherd University
P.O. Box 5000
Shepherdstown, WV 25443-5000
Electronic submissions should be sent to sshurbut@shepherd.edu.
What should accompany submissions? The application form below.
What prize will be awarded? $500.00 First Prize Award and possible publication, $100 each for Second Place, Third Place, and Judges’ Choice Awards for high school and middle school students.
Who will select the fiction contest winner? A panel of writers, editors, and creative writing instructors will choose finalists, and the 2020 Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence (AHWIR) Dorothy Allison will select winners from these finalists. The Fiction Prizes are funded by the West Virginia Center for the Book and will be presented by Dorothy Allison on the night of Thursday, September 24, 2020, at Shepherd University. Allison will also provide reviews of each finalist story. The WV Fiction Competition is part of the 2020 AHWIR Project and Allison residency: “Home Is Where My People Are: The Prose and Poetry of Dorothy Allison.” Allison’s award-winning novel Cavedweller will be the 2020 One Book One West Virginia Common Read. Fiction Competition winners will dine with Allison on the evening of the awards. All finalist and judges choice stories will be considered for the Anthology of Appalachian Writers, Dorothy Allison Volume XIII.
When will the winners be notified? August 1, 2020
West Virginia Fiction Competition Submission
Name:
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Title of Submission:
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Address:
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E-mail:
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Phone:
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Brief Bio. (100 word limit)
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