University Writing Awards

Daniel T. Mitchell Memorial Essay Contest (FR/SO; JR/SR; GRAD)

• Expository or critical essays; topic open. Essays written since March 2018 for ANY LMU course are eligible.
• One entry per person.
• Freshman-Sophomore, Junior-Senior, and Graduate divisions.

Denise L. Scott Memorial Poetry Contest: Each LMU undergraduate student may enter one poem.

Graduate Poetry Contest: Each LMU graduate student may enter one poem.

Frank Sullivan Memorial Short Story Contest: Each LMU undergraduate student may enter one story.

Graduate Short Story Contest: Each LMU graduate student may enter one story.

Undergraduate Playwriting Contest: Each LMU undergraduate student may enter one stage play (not a screen or television play) of any number of acts.

Graduate Playwriting Contest: Each LMU graduate student may enter one stage play (not a screen or television play) of any number of acts.

1.  

   The 2023 LMU Writing Awards

   Essay, Poetry, Short Story, and Playwriting

    

   Cash Prizes for Top Winners up to $100

   Great Resume Builder for Employment or Grad School

    

   Please read the rules carefully. Direct other questions to Prof. Gail Wronsky at Gail.Wronsky@lmu.edu. When e-mailing questions, specify “University Writing Awards” in the subject field of your e-mail. 

    

   Submissions due by 5 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Monday, 17 March 2023

    

    

   Categories

    

   Daniel T. Mitchell Memorial Essay Contest
   (Divisions: Freshman/Sophomore; Junior/Senior; Graduate)

   • Expository or critical essays; topic open. Essays written since January 2022 for
     ANY LMU course are eligible.
   • Manuscripts must be original.
     Previous Writing Award submissions may NOT be resubmitted.

   ·         Freshman-Sophomore, Junior-Senior and Graduate divisions.

   ·         One entry per person.

    

   Denise L. Scott Memorial Poetry Contest

   ·         Each LMU undergraduate student may enter one poem.

    

   Graduate Poetry Contest

   ·         Each LMU graduate student may enter one poem.

    

   Frank Sullivan Memorial Short Story Contest

   ·         Each LMU undergraduate student may enter one story.

    

   Graduate Short Story Contest

   ·         Each LMU graduate student may enter one story.

    

   Undergraduate Playwriting Contest

   ·         Each LMU undergraduate student may enter one stage play (not a screen or television play) of any number of acts.

    

   Graduate Playwriting Contest

   ·         Each LMU graduate student may enter one stage play (not a screen or television play) of any number of acts.

    

    

   Submission Instructions

    

    

   1. Please e-mail your submission as an MS Word document to the Senior Administrative Coordinator for the English Department Maria Jackson at mjackson@lmu.edu. Include “University Writing Awards , the Contest Category, and your name in the Subject line of the email.”
      
      Example: “Writing Awards: Essay: Freshman/Sophomore Division, John Smith”
   2. Each submission MUST include two files: a file with an anonymous manuscript (your name should not appear anywhere on the manuscript) accompanied by a cover page with the following information in the order below:

    

   (a) your manuscript’s title;

   (b) the manuscript’s category and division;

   (c) your name;

   (d) your LMU Lion e-mail address;

   (e) your student ID number;

   (f) your mailing address;

   (g) your telephone number;

   (h) your major;

   (I ) your college;

   (j) and your graduation year/class.

    

   1. Please remember that the author’s name cannot appear anywhere on the actual manuscript; entries bearing an author’s name will be disqualified.
   2. Essays and short stories must be double-spaced; poems may use the spacing appropriate for the work's visual and aesthetic needs; plays should be formatted according to standard playwriting form.  The title should appear on the first page of the manuscript and the title should appear on every subsequent page. Make sure to number your manuscript pages.

    

   For Essay, Short Story, Poetry and Playwriting:

    

    

   Submissions due by 5 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Friday, 17 March 2023

    

   Entries will be judged anonymously by LMU faculty and without written comments.

   In a category or division, if the pool of manuscripts is too small, or if manuscripts do not meet contest parameters, the LMU Writing Awards judges and coordinator may choose not to grant an award.

    

   A list of contest winners will be announced by Saturday, 22 April.

Entries will be judged anonymously by LMU faculty and without written comments. In a category or division, if the pool of manuscripts is too small or if manuscripts do not meet contest parameters, the LMU Writing Awards judges and coordinator may choose not to grant an award.