Secretary of State and State Librarian, Jesse White, recently announced that entry forms for the Illinois Emerging Writers Competition Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award are now available.
Named in the honor of Pulitzer Prize winner and Illinois Poet Laureate, the late Gwendolyn Brooks, the competition is open to Illinois residents aged 18 and older. Entries into the competition must be postmarked by June 30th. The top three entries will win a cash prize, 1st place-$500, 2nd place-$300, 3rd place-$100, and will be entered for possible publication in “Ninth Letter”, “RHINO”, “Quiddity”, and “Poetic License Press”. These winners will also read their entries at a ceremony at the Illinois State Library in Springfield. The entry forms are available at cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/center_for_the_book.
Jesse White stated, “We created the Illinois Emerging Writers Competition to promote creative writing and provide an outlet for talented writers. Great poems have the ability to enrich and enhance our lives, and I am looking forward to celebrating talented poets with this year’s competition”.
For additional information, contact Illinois Center for the Book Coordinator, Bonnie Matheis at 217-558-2065 or email bmatheis@ilsos.net.