M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing, Barely South Review Sponsor Girault Literary Prize
Old Dominion University's M.F.A. program in creative writing and Barely South Review are sponsoring the 2012 Norton Girault Literary Prize. The inaugural competition is open now.
This year's contest category is fiction. Cristina Garcia, the award-winning author of five novels, including "Dreaming in Cuban" and "A Handbook to Luck," will act as the contest judge.
One prize will be awarded for a single short story up to 25 pages (double-spaced). The author of the winning story will receive $1,000 and publication in Barely South Review, a writers' collective run by ODU's M.F.A. program in creative writing.
One honorable mention will also be selected for publication.
The contest is made possible by a seed grant from ODU's Office of Graduate Admissions.
The M.F.A. program is part of the English Department. It began in 1994 with 12 students and three creative writers, and continues to grow with vigor. Today, 25-35 students each semester work with the program's talented seven-member creative writing faculty in fiction, poetry and nonfiction.
For the contest, entries may be sent by postal mail or email. Postal mail entries with official entry form and $25 entry fee should go to Luisa A. Igloria, director of the M.F.A. Creative Writing Program, BAL 5000, English Department, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529.
Electronic entries may be sent through Submittable. Go to www.submittable.com and look for the Norton Girault Prize under "categories."
The prize is open to all writers who write in English, except M.F.A. creative writing students at ODU. No translated works will be accepted. All submissions must be original and previously unpublished in print or on the Internet.
The electronic and postmark deadline for entries is Feb. 29. Winners will be announced at the end of April.
Norton Girault, a World War II and Korean War Navy veteran, taught English at Norfolk State University for 15 years. A vital member of the Hampton Roads literary community, Girault has participated in ODU writing courses for many years.