This site will look much better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

   
 

ILLINOIS EMERGING WRITERS COMPETITION

General Information

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 -- Downstate Story, Ninth Letter and RHINO. The final judges in the competition are Kevin Stein, the Illinois Poet Laureate for the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award and Kaylie Jones, the talented writer and daughter of celebrated Illinois author James Jones for the James Jones Short Story Award.

The competition is open to writers age 18 and over who have not yet published a book with an ISBN. Each year, information about the annual competition is available by late February with the deadline being the last business day of June in that given year. Winners are announced at the end of October and the awards ceremony takes place before the end of the year. Along with having their winning entries submitted to the participating publishers, all winners receive a plaque and a cash prize.

Judging and Judges

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 all of the judges: Dwight Connelly, Kim Cox, Bonnie Culver, Leslie DuFresne, Ray Elliott, Rosemary Johnsen, Allan Johnston, Kaylie Jones, Judy Jordan, Anne Krueger, Rashidah Jaami' Muhammad, Rosina Neginsky, Lee Newton, Cecilia Pinto, Diane Reed, Anita Shelton, Kevin Stein, Christy Stillwell, Christine Swanberg, and Annette Van Dyke.


Brief History

In 2005, the first year of the Illinois Emerging Writers Competition, the competition was solely dedicated to poetry and the Illinois Center for the Book partnered with Kevin Stein (http://www.bradley.edu/poet/), the Illinois Poet Laureate (http://poetlaureate.il.gov/). In 2006, the Illinois Center for the Book also partnered with the James Jones Literary Society (http://rking.vinu.edu/j.htm) to offer a short story award. Thanks to Kevin Stein, the Illinois Poet Laureate and the 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.

Questions

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

2010 Illinois Emerging Writers Competition

The forms and guidelines for the 2010 competition will be available in late February 2010. The deadline to enter will be June 30, 2010. Winners will be announced in late October 2010.

2009 Illinois Emerging Writers Competition

Illinois Emerging Writers Awards Ceremony
Thursday, November 19, 2009 at the Illinois State Library Gwendolyn Brooks Building


Left to Right: Illinois Poet Laureate, Kevin Stein; 1st Place Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award Winner, Vincent Francone; Secretary of State and State Librarian, Jesse White; 3rd Place Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award Winner, Mary Hotlen; 1st Place James Jones Short Story Winner, Baird Harper; 2nd Place James Jones Short Story Winner, Colby Cuppernull; James Jones Literary Society Past President, Ray Elliott

James Jones Short Story Award winners  

Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award winners  

Listen to the 2009 Poetry Winners read their winning poems

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

Listen to the 2008 Poetry Winners read their winning poems

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

Listen to the 2007 Poetry Winners read their winning poems

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

Listen to the 2006 Poetry Winners read their winning poems

2005 Winners and Poems

Listen to the 2005 Poetry Winners read their winning poems