Polish off those manuscripts because it’s time to submit your entry for the 2020 Langston Hughes Creative Writing Awards! We are honored to partner with the Raven Book Store to provide two awards of $500 – one in the area of poetry and one in the area of fiction- in honor of Lawrence’s own Langston Hughes.
Growing up in Lawrence prepared Langston Hughes (1902-1967) to understand the difficulties of a racist society as well as the complexities of life itself. He responded by writing in diverse genres and styles, drawing on the rich culture of African Americans and the many voices of American democracy. His writing shifted from the psychological and political to the lyrical, the tragic, and the humorous. His work crossed literary boundaries and sought to express a clearer, more memorable vision of the reality he experienced.
The Langston Hughes Award seeks to encourage and support writers who are continuing to present their life experiences creatively through poetry, stories, and non-fiction prose. Surprise us. Move us. Help us see ourselves and our lives in new ways.
This year’s judges are Darren Canady, Jackie Hedeman, Huascar Medina, Mary O’Connell, and Justin Runge.
Who can submit?
- Unpublished writers of poetry or fiction 21+ currently living in Douglas County, Kansas. *Must have lived here for one year prior to submission of materials.
- Previous winners ARE NOT eligible.
I’m eligible! So, now what?
Click this link for complete guidelines and submissions.
The deadline is December 20, 2019, so now’s the time to get those typewriter keys clacking and take the world by storm…