Creative Writing Awards and Elements Submission Form

We are now taking submissions for the Creative Writing Awards and Elements online until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 28, 2025!

The name, username and photo associated with your Google account will be recorded when you upload files and submit this form. If you are not chosen as a winner for the contest, your work will be automatically submitted to Elements for potential publication.

Submission Requirements

1. Fill out contact information for your submissions (these will be confidential)
2. Follow the requirements for each award when uploading your attachments
3. Submit this form by the deadline

If you have any questions, please email the coordinator, Barbara Lawhorn, via email at BC-Lawhorn@wiu.edu.

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Side Notes

1. You can submit entries for EACH award (several cash prizes and awards will be honored).
2. The final judges for the contests will be professional writers!
3. 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.
4. 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. Formatting Requirements:
   • 12pt font
   • Times New Roman
   • double-spaced
   • word document format ONLY
3. Attachment upload should be saved as:
   • [TheYear]-Nonfiction-[YourTitle]
     • (Example: 2020-Nonfiction-MyTitleIsOriginal)
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. Formatting Requirements
   • 12pt font
   • Times New Roman
   • double-spaced
   • word document format only
3. Attachment upload should be saved as:
   • [TheYear]-Fiction-[YourTitle]
     • (Example: 2020-Fiction-MyTitleIsOriginal)
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 (one poem per attachment)
2. Formatting Requirements:
   • 12pt font
   • Times New Roman
   • single-spaced
   • word document format only
3. Attachment upload should be saved as:
   • [TheYear]-Poetry-[YourTitle]
     • (Example: 2020-Poetry-MyTitleIsOriginal.docx)
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!