Creative Writing Awards
The Department of English sponsors an annual contest for the best original work in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, and playwriting. Congratulations to the 2020-2021 winners, judged by Philip Metres. You can check out their winning manuscripts here.
Congratulations to the finalists of the 2022 Creative Writing Awards, judged by Aisha Sabatini Sloan!
Creative Nonfiction
Mary Claire Zauel, “Coming Out”–1st place
Julia Rudlaff, “What I Remember”–2nd place
Fiction
Denver Williams, “Home”–1st place
Kelly Stapelman, “Oratia”–2nd place
Poetry
Alexie Milukhin, “Perishable” (1st place)
Durga Shanker, “Zora and Lily in the Summer” (2nd place)
Script
MJ Telly, “Ho’oman” (1st place)
Jeremy Weber, “Boon Country” (2nd place)
Finalists
Emma Brinks, “Breaking Rocks” (CNF)
Emma Kolakowski, “Depreciation” (CNF)
Sydney Logsdon, “Best Practices” (CNF)
Alexie Milukhin, “Liminal Year” (CNF)
Sohaib Aboona, “The Abram” (Fiction)
Emily Arnold, “Briar Springs” (Fiction)
Ellie Franklin, “The Nature Trip” (Fiction)
Aly Walters, “The Cans” (Fiction)
Ally Blovits (Poetry)
Sydney Logsdon (Poetry)
Adrianna Pipe (Poetry)
Madeline Strong (Poetry)
Owen Jowett, “The Wanted” (Script)
Maggie Lupton, “Mirror of Pink” (Script)
Josie Mitchell, “Retirement” (Script)
Madeline Strong, “Guppy Love” (Script)
Scholarships for Current Students
Scholarships of $1500 will be awarded to outstanding students in the creative writing program to be applied to tuition; any student in the creative writing program graduating December 2023 or later is eligible to apply. If you are interested in applying, please submit a writing sample of 10-15 pages of work (in a single genre or in multiple genres) along, with a brief (500 word) aesthetic and contextual statement about your project and your goals as a writer. Submissions for scholarships for 2022-23 will be accepted through April 3, 2023 via Google Form. Questions may be directed to Dr. Divya Victor (victordi@msu.edu).
Jim Cash Award for Outstanding Senior in Creative Writing
The Jim Cash Award honors graduating seniors in the Creative Writing Program. Applicants are nominated by faculty.
Scholarships for Incoming Students
The Department of English offers up to three Creative Arts Scholarships for incoming students who plan to pursue the B.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing.
To apply, students should submit the following application, as well as a creative writing sample (5-10 pages of poetry, prose, or screen/playwriting, or a short film on DVD) and statement of intent (minimum of 500 words) regarding their interest in creative writing no later than January 31, 2023.
https://admissions.msu.edu/documents/caschol_english.pdf
Complete applications should be submitted as either electronic documents to the Director of Creative Writing at msucw@msu.edu or as hard copy to:
Department of English
c/o Director of Creative Writing
Wells Hall C614
619 Red Cedar Rd.
East Lansing, MI 48824