By Rebecca Juntunen
Traditionally, the PSC English Department has held the Walter F. Spara writing in the spring, however, the 2014 contest is experiencing a few changes and will be moved to the fall semester.
Created in honor of the late PSC creative writing professor, Walter Spara, the competition allows students to submit their work of poetry, essays and fiction.
According to English professor, Mike Will, the reason for hosting the contest in the fall rather than the spring is that “it will be a better link-up with the student publications.”
Since these student publications— The Hurricane Review and the Kilgore Review—are typically released in the spring, hosting a fall contest will allow winning entries to be featured in the upcoming issues of the Hurricane and Kilgore.
This year, the contest also had to change the essay category.
In the past, students could submit any literary essay. This year, the essays will specifically address the theme of work, answering questions like what work is, why people work, and what people work for. Essays should be no longer than 1,000 words.
Fiction entries should no longer than 1,500 words and poetry entries should be a collection of 3 to 5 poems. All submissions need to have a cover sheet.
Despite the fact that the contest is being held in the fall, students can— and are encouraged to—start submitting work now.
To submit their work, participants must be enrolled at PSC during the Spring 2014 or Fall 2014 semesters. The submission deadline in November 20th.
After the winning entries have been chosen, a reception will be held, for winners to receive cash prizes and be recognized for their work.
Students can submit works two ways: email them to Mike Will at mwill@pensacolastate.edu , or hand deliver two printed copies to the office of English/Communications (building 4, room 410).
For more information about the contest, email Mike Will at mwill@pensacolastate.edu