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High School Creative Writing Competition and Creative Writing Workshop

Contest Submission Deadline Is October 1

This fall, Salem College presents Inspired Ink, its second annual creative writing competition for female high school students, with awards in both short fiction up to 2,500 words and poetry up to 30 lines. Submissions must be postmarked October 1, 2007; winners will be announced by mid-October.

The winner in each genre will receive $100 and publication in Incunabula, Salem College’s literary magazine. The two honorable mentions named in each genre will receive $50 each. All fiction finalists will receive a certificate and a signed copy of The Secret Life of Bees by bestselling author Sue Monk Kidd. All poetry finalists will receive a certificate and a signed copy of Delights and Shadows by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Ted Kooser.

Contests are open to female students enrolled in high school—grades 9 to 12 or the equivalent—living in Allegany, Ashe, Burke, Caldwell, Rutherford, Surry, Watauga and Wilkes counties, as well as all counties in Piedmont North Carolina. All participants are invited to an award ceremony and reception on Saturday, November 3, at 4:00 p.m. Winners must be present to receive prizes.

All submissions must be the author’s unpublished original work. Previous entrants must submit new material. Each entry should include the following: One cover sheet per entry with your name, address, telephone number, email, county name, high school name, year of high school graduation, word count for fiction/line count for poetry, and the title of the work; and two clean typed copies of the manuscript. The author’s name and address must not appear on the anuscript. Entries are limited to one entry per genre. No entries will be returned.

Send all entries to Inspired Ink, Salem College, PO Box 10548, Winston-Salem, NC 27108. For further information, a list of frequently asked questions or information on Salem College’s creative writing major and the Center for Women Writers, click to www.salem.edu/inspiredink or email creativewriting@salem.edu.

Salem College’s creative writing faculty is presenting Write Place, Write Time, a high school creative writing workshop for young women in grades 9 to 12, held before the awards ceremony on November 3 from 1:00 until 3:30 p.m.

This afternoon writing experience will offer lectures on the elements of craft, followed by invention exercises and small group workshops. Publishing opportunities for young writers will also be discussed. Both a poetry and a fiction class will be offered; students should indicate which genre they prefer when registering. To register, call 336 721-2687. Space is limited.

Founded in 1772, Salem College is the nation’s oldest women’s college. Committed to the liberal arts and quality professional preparation, Salem offers 29 undergraduate majors, graduate study in education and a continuing studies program for adults.