The WMWP Online News

The deadline for this year’s WMWP Writing Contest has been extended to December 19th, so get out those pens and submit a piece of writing. This event may be labeled a contest, but it is more an opportunity for you to see yourself as a writer, with the opportunity to get published in WMWP publications.

The rules:

The Western Massachusetts Writing Project invites all Massachusetts educators to submit manuscripts of up to 750 words for its annual Teachers as Writers Contest.

First Prize: Publication in the WMWP February newsletter and on the website. The author will receive a $100 credit to be used toward any WMWP Teachers as Writers program.

Second Prize: Publication on the WMWP website. The author will receive a $50 credit to be used toward any WMWP Teachers as Writers program.

Only one entry per person. Entry must be typed (without author’s name) and accompanied by a cover sheet with contact information.

Guidelines:

• Manuscripts will be accepted until December 19 and should be limited to 750 words or less.
• Entries may be in any genre (personal narrative, essay, play, poem, story, etc.) and on any topic, incding but not limited to stories about teaching and learning.
• Only one entry will be accepted per person. (A single poem is one entry.)
• Only previously unpublished work will be accepted.
• All entries must be typed. The author’s name should NOT be included on any piece.
• Each entry must be accompanied by a cover sheet stating the author’s name, school and home addresses, telephone numbers, and email.
• Written responses to entries are available upon request. Please indicate on the cover sheet if you would like a response from the editorial board.
• Entries will be judged by an editorial board of WMWP teachers. The editorial board and the WMWP co-directors are not eligible for the contest.

Send your manuscript and cover sheet to:

Western Massachusetts Writing Project
258 Bartlett Hall
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003

Meanwhile, the Northampton Poet Laureate, Leslee Newman (who has led several workshops and participated in various events with WMWP), has launched a Poetry Contest that seeks to counter the winter blues by focusing on the theme of JOY. The Paradise Poetry Prize even is being sponsored by the Northampton Center for the Arts, Broadside Books and the Daily Hampshire Gazette newspaper.

Here are the particulars of the Paradise Poetry Prize:

Poets must live in Hampshire, Franklin or Hampden counties.

· Each poet may enter only one poem, previously unpublished, no more than 30 lines long and on the topic of joy.

· Poets should send a cover sheet with their name, address, phone number, email address and the title of the poem. The poem should be on its own piece of paper, without the poet’s name or other identifying information.

· Submission must be postmarked between Jan. 1 and 31, 2009. Early or late entries will be disqualified. Email entries will not be accepted. The poems cannot be returned.

· Send entries to:

Paradise Poetry Prize
Northampton Arts Council
240 Main Street, Room 5
Northampton, MA 01060

So, go forth and write!