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An affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress

  
 

ILLINOIS EMERGING WRITERS COMPETITION

The purpose of the Illinois Emerging Writers Competition is to promote creative writing, encourage local writers and provide a unique opportunity and outlet for recognizing new literary talent. Winners receive cash prizes and have their works submitted for review and possible publication in the Illinois literary magazines -- Another Chicago Magazine, Downstate Story, Ninth Letter and RHINO. 
In 2005, the first year of the Illinois Emerging Writers Competition, the competition was solely dedicated to poetry. After the first year, the Illinois Center for the Book partnered with the James Jones Literary Society to offer a short story award as well as a poetry award. Thanks to generous funding from the James Jones Literary Society, the Illinois Emerging Writers Competition now offers two awards - the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award and the James Jones Short Story Award.

Judging for the competition is blind and tiered. Several literary professionals donate their time and talent to the judging process. Heartfelt thanks goes out to our tier judges which include: Nancy Claypool, Dwight Connelly, Dr. Alice Cox, Kim Cox, Ray Elliott, Robert Fox, Helen Howe, Allan Johnston, Judy Jordan, Anne Krueger, Marcellus J. Leonard, Elise Miller, Rashidad Muhammad, Rosina Neginsky, Lee Newton, Julie Parson-Nesbitt, Diane Reed, Cin Salach, Christy Stillwell, Christine Swanberg, Annette Van Dyke and Gale Walden.

Special thanks also goes out to our final judges for each competition. Both have welcomed the challenge of the role and have added credence to the competition. Their dedication to the written word and the Illinois Emerging Writers Competition is greatly appreciated. Our most humble thanks go out to our final judges: Illinois Poet Laureate, Kevin Stein for the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award and Kaylie Jones, the accomplished writer and daughter of celebrated Illinois author James Jones for the James Jones Short Story Award.

The competition is open to writers age18 and over who have not yet published a book. Each year, information about the annual competition is available by late February with the deadline being the last business day of June for that given year. Winners are announced at the end of October and the awards ceremony takes place before the end of the year. All winners receive a plaque and a cash prize.

If you have any questions about the Illinois Emerging Writers Competition, please contact Bonnie Matheis, the Coordinator of the Illinois Center for the Book.

2009 Illinois Emerging Writers Competition Winners

Information about the 2009 Illinois Emerging Writers Competition will be available in late January 2009. Please check back at that time for the forms and guidelines. If you have any questions about the competition, please contact: Bonnie Matheis, the Coordinator of the Illinois Center for the Book. 

2008 Illinois Emerging Writers Competition

James Jones Short Story Award winners  

  • 1st place - Peggy Stortz of Galena for her story Night Visitor
  • 2nd place - John Gabriel of Joliet for his story Just Sort of Out of Sight
  • 3rd place - John J. Flaherty of Bloomingdale for his story BUMS  
Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award winners  
  • 1st place - Thea Chesley of Springfield for her poem Rendezvous, Rue de Ursulines
  • 2nd place - Peggy Davis of Mt. Vernon for her poem Bearing Witness
  • 3rd place - Fawn Hoener of Springfield for her poem Hot Flash
2007 Illinois Emerging Writers Competition Winners

James Jones Short Story Award winners 

  • 1st place - Lorie Kolak of Chicago for her story Her Terrible Singing Voice and Love of Singing 
  • 2nd place - Andrew Gregory Krzak of New Lenox for his story 24 Frames 
  • 3rd place - Joseph A. Woods of Park Forest for his story Black Shines 
Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award winners

2006 Competition Update
 

Congratulations to 2006 winners Anthony Coman of DeKalb and Susan Srikant of Urbana. Both of their winning entries are being published.

Anthony was the 1st place winner of the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award. His winning poem titled House will be published by RHINO magazine. Look for Anthony's poem in the April 2008 Edition of RHINO.

Susan was the 3rd place winner of the James Jones Short Story Award. Her wining story titled My Arrival in Horseshoe, Nevada will be published by Downstate Story magazine. Look for Susan’s story in Volume 16 of the 2007 Edition of Downstate Story.

To read Anthony's and Susan's award-winning works, click on their names in the winners box below.
 

2006 Winners

James Jones
Short Story Award		 Gwendolyn Brooks
Poetry Award

2005 Winners and Poems

If you would like additional information about any of the activities of the Illinois Center for the Book, please contact Bonnie Matheis, the Coordinator for the Illinois Center for the Book at 217-558-2065.