The Wisconsin People & Ideas / Wisconsin Book Festival Writing Contests

Wisconsin People & Ideas, which regularly publishes some of the best poetry and fiction from around the state, is running a short story and poetry contest.

Entries should be submitted between September 15 and December 15. Winners will receive up to $500 and other prizes along with publication in Wisconsin People & Ideas and a reading at the 2011 Wisconsin Book Festival in Madison. In addition, first-place winners will receive a one-week stay at Edenfred creative arts residency in the Madison Highlands, courtesy of the Terry Family Foundation.

Short story contest winners will be chosen by author Valerie Laken. Winners receive prizes of $500 (first place), $250 (second place), and $100 (third place). Winning works appear serially beginning with the first-prize story in the summer 2011 issue of Wisconsin People & Ideas. The first-place story author will receive a one-week stay at Edenfred.

Poetry contest winners will be chosen by poet Angela Rydell. Winners receive prizes of $500 (first place, the John Lehman Poetry Award), $100 (second place), and $50 (third place). Winning poems appear in the spring 2011 issue of Wisconsin People & Ideas, with 10 runners-up in the summer and fall 2011 issues. The first-prize poet receives a one-week stay at Edenfred and a three-hour CD recording/editing session at Abella Studios.

The Wisconsin People & Ideas / Wisconsin Book Festival 2011 Short Story and Poetry Contests are supported by the Wisconsin Humanities Council, Avol’s Bookstore, Abella Studio, Wisconsin Public Television, and the Terry Family Foundation.

For contest details and rules visit http://www.wisconsinacademy.org.