Barrett Creative Writing Contest submissions due February 28

Event Date
Illustration of a fist holding a pencil with lightning bolts.

Students: Let your voice be heard in HFC’s annual Francis G. Barrett Creative Writing Contest and the Larry Colter Poetry Prize. All submissions are due by Friday, February 28.

This year’s contest is the 50th anniversary!

This contest is open to original works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama. All students who are enrolled at HFC are eligible to enter. A total of $700 will be divided among the top five winners. This contest is held annually at the College to honor the memory of the English Department's first department chairperson, Frances G. Barrett.

Guidelines

Submissions should be sent to michave@hfcc.edu as an attachment, preferably a Microsoft Word document. We strongly recommend that you use your Hawkmail email address to ensure that we receive your submission(s). You may submit 1-4 pieces of writing, which may vary in genre.

All attached submissions should be accompanied by a cover letter within the email containing the following information:

  • Your name
  • Your HFC Student ID
  • Title(s) of the work(s) submitted
  • Your major and the number of years you have been attending HFC
  • Your contact information (include email address, phone number, and home address)
  • A brief paragraph of biographical information: Tell us about yourself. For example, tell us about your hobbies, where you work, your family, your past publications, etc. Also, include several sentences about what inspired the work(s) you submitted.
  • Include the Release Form for Artwork and Creative Writing with your submission(s).

Submissions

Original fiction, non-fiction, and drama submissions should be free of any grammatical errors. The submissions should not exceed five (5) pages in length. Longer submissions may be considered, but they will be published only if they are exceptional. Also, excerpts from original novels or novellas are welcome.

  • Fiction, non-fiction, and drama submissions must be double-spaced.
  • The page numbers should be clearly marked.
  • Identifying information (your name, email address, etc.) should NOT be included on any submissions.

Poetry submissions should be free of any grammatical errors. The highest-placing poem in the Barrett Contest will also be awarded the Colter Poetry Prize, which includes $100.

  • Poems should be single-spaced.
  • The title should be clearly marked for each poem.
  • Identifying information (name, email address, etc.) should NOT be included on any submissions.

Notification

Winners will be notified by Friday, April 4. Winners will then be honored on Thursday, April 17, from 12:40 to 2:00 p.m. in the Adray Auditorium (Room F-100) in the MacKenzie Fine Arts Center (Building F on the main campus).

“The Barrett and Colter prizes mark my favorite time of the year when students can show off their talents and faculty can brag about their students! This year is extra special because it's the 50th anniversary. This celebration of writing and art has endured five decades, which is impressive and encouraging,” said HFC English instructor Dr. Sommer Sterud.

For questions or more information, contact michave@hfcc.edu.