Chicago State University Gwendolyn Brooks Center

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SAVE
THE
DATE
Wednesday,
October 17 to
Saturday,
October 20, 2007

The 17th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Writers' Conference
for Black Literature and Creative Writing

2007 Literary Awards
The Gwendolyn Brooks Center announces its annual literary awards in creative writing and criticism in conjunction with the 17th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Writers' Conference, October 17, 2007 - October 20, 2007, at Chicago State University (CSU). The Center will award seven prizes in poetry, fiction, script writing, and literary criticism in its continuing efforts to encourage writing that explores, explicates, embraces, and celebrates the richness of Black World Culture.
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The Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award

The Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award is open to all Chicago State University students. Applicants must be current CSU students and are asked to submit two poems, 30 lines or less each, that uniquely express the Black experience. The award includes a $500 honorarium.

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The Fuller, Kent, Turner, Gayle Award for Literary Criticism

The Hoyt W. Fuller, George Kent, Darwin T. Turner, Addison Gayle Jr. Award for Literary Criticism is open to unpublished writers. Applicants are asked to submit an essay (maximum 15 dbl. spaced pages) that explores the presence and impact of Sonja Sanchez. This award includes a $200 honorarium. NOT OPEN TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

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The Zora Neale Hurston-Bessie Head Fiction Award
The Hurston-Head Fiction Award is open to unpublished writers. Applicants are asked to submit a story (maximum of 20 dbl. Spaced pages) that explores some aspect of the Black experience. This award includes a $150 honorarium. NOT OPEN TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

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The Hughes, Diop, Knight Poetry Award

The Langston Hughes, David Diop, Etheridge Knight Poetry Award is open to unpublished writers. Applicants are asked to submit two poems, 30 lines or less each, that uniquely express the Black experience. This award includes a $150 honorarium. NOT OPEN TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.
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The Douglas Turner Ward / Alice ChildressScript Writing Award
The Douglass Turner Ward/Alice Childress Script Writing Award is open to unpublished writers. Applicants are asked to submit a script of no more than 50 dbl. spaced pages that explores some aspect of the Black experience. This award includes a $150 honorarium. NOT OPEN TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

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The Dudley Randall Poetry Award
The Dudley Randall Poetry Award is open ONLY to high school students in the state of Illinois. Applicants are asked to submit two poems, 30 lines or less each, that uniquely express the Black experience. This award includes a $150.
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The Alice Walker Short Story Award
The Alice Walker Short Story Award is open ONLY to high school students in the state of Illinois. Applicants are asked to submit a maximum of 10 dbl. spaced pages that explore some aspect the Black experience. This award includes a $150.

Submissions must be mailed to:
2007 Literary Awards

The Gwendolyn Brooks Center
Chicago State University
9501 S. King Drive, LIB 210A
Chicago, IL 60628-1598

The deadline (POSTMARK DATE) for all submissions is September 15, 2007. SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE RETURNED.

All winners will be announced at the 17th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Writers' Conference on the evening of Saturday, October 20, 2007.