Feb. 1, 2016. That’s the deadline for the Council for Wisconsin Writers 2015 Awards contests, and is just 29 days away!
Work published by Wisconsin writers in 2015 is eligible in seven categories, which includes book-length fiction, nonfiction and poetry; short fiction and nonfiction; a set of five poems two of which were published in the contest year; and children’s literature. (Outdoor writing may now be submitted to the long or short non-fiction category).
First-place winners receive $500 and a week-long writers’ residency at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts in Mineral Point. Honorable mentions receive $50.
Contest entries must be postmarked no later than Feb. 1, 2016. Authors who enter must be current Wisconsin residents. The entry fee is $25. Membership in CWW is not required, but members are entitled to one free entry. Entries are judged by out-of-state judges. Awards will be presented at CWW’s annual awards banquet in May 2016.
CWW also sponsors an Essay Award for Young Writers (1500 word maximum) for Wisconsin high school students; there is no entry fee, and the award is $250 this year for the winning student. Members of the board will judge. Entries for the student essay contest must be postmarked no later than Feb. 1, 2016.
Included in this year’s CWW awards is its biennial CWW’s Major Achievement Award, of $1,000, honoring the work of a Wisconsin writer who deserves special recognition for literary merit. Nominating letters must be postmarked no later than Feb. 1, 2016. No entry fee is required to make a nomination.
Guidelines, entry forms, and additional information about each category is posted in the awards section of the website at www.wiswriters.org/awards.htm. (Scroll down to page 2.)
CWW is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of published Wisconsin writers and encouraging an appreciation of Wisconsin writing.