Fairmont State University Library Student Writing Contest 2023: Home

Fairmont State University Library is pleased to announce our first annual Writing Contest!

Categories: Short Story and Poetry

$250 Cash prize to the 1st place winner in each category.

Guidelines

This contest is open to any current Fairmont State University undergraduate student. No entry fee required.

Short story submissions: up to 3000-word count. Limit of one short story submission per person.

Poetry submissions: up to 500-word count. Limit of two poem entries per person.

Entries must contain a cover page, meeting the following guidelines:

• Full Name
• Title of Story
• F Number
• Major
• Year of study at Fairmont State

Submission must meet the following guidelines:

• Files must be a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx)
• Format – Margins: 1” all around
• Font – Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial
• Line Spacing – Double-spaced
• Each page should be numbered and contain the title of the story, name should be omitted for submission, with the exception of the cover page.
• All entries MUST be original and unpublished work by the entrant. Works created by AI, such as ChatGPT, will be disqualified.
• Plagiarism of any kind, will not be tolerated. 
• Work must not have previously received an award or special recognization/honor.
• Must be either short fiction or poetry; draw inspiration from the theme: “There is More to the Story.”
• Works that are racist or offensive, and/or contain excessive violence, sex or profanity, as determined by the judges, will be disqualified.

Deadline: Submissions must be received no later than midnight on March 24. 

Winner's Announced: Week of April 24. 

Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category.  Entrants are allowed to win only one category. 

Prizes include: first place prize of $250 scholarship, and publication in The Whetstone.

Submit

Email submissions to librarycontest@fairmontstate.edu or click the button below to submit.