Hackney Literary Awards

2008 Guidelines

The Hackney Literary Awards, open to writers nationwide, are presented each year as part of the Birmingham-Southern College Writing Today Conference. Sponsored since 1969 by the Cecil Hackney family of Birmingham, the competition awards $5,000 in annual prizes for poetry and short fiction, ($2,500 national and $2,500 state level; 1st place, $600; 2nd place, $400; and 3rd place, $250) plus a $5,000 prize sponsored by Morris Hackney for an unpublished novel. The winners will be announced at the conference on March 13-14, 2009.

Novel Guidelines: Length is open. No provisions are available for publication; rights revert to winner to seek placement. The entry fee is $25.00 per entry. No novel entry will be accepted before June 1, 2008, and deadline for accepting entries is September 30, 2008 (postmark).

Short Story Guidelines: Length not to exceed 5,000 words per story. The fee is $10.00 per entry. Short story entries will not be accepted before October 1, 2008, and entry deadline will be December 31, 2008 (postmark).

Poetry Guidelines: Poetry not to exceed 50 lines per entry. More than one poem may be submitted, but all poems together must not exceed the 50-line limit per entry. The fee is $10.00 per entry. Poetry entries will not be accepted before October 1, 2008, and entry deadline will be December 31, 2008 (postmark).

Only original, unpublished manuscripts may be entered. Poetry and Short Story entries from Alabama will be entered in the state contest unless specified for the national competition. ENTRIES CAN BE JUDGED IN ONLY ONE CATEGORY – EITHER STATE OR NATIONAL – NOT BOTH!

Short story and novel manuscripts should be typed and doubled-spaced. Poetry entries should be typed. Each entry submitted must have a cover sheet listing the title of the work, author’s name, address, and telephone number, and category of the work (short story, novel, or poetry). The author’s name must not appear on the actual pages of the manuscript.

Manuscripts cannot be returned. A self-addressed, stamped envelope must be enclosed if you wish to receive a list of the winners after they are announced at the Writing Today Conference. Winners only will be notified prior to the Writing Today conference. Public announcement of winners will not be made until the conference. Refunds for withdrawn entries will only be given through December 31, 2008. If multiple entries are submitted, you need only send one SASE for contest winners. Poetry and short story entries are to be submitted separately.

Please follow guidelines exactly.

Make checks payable to: Hackney Literary Awards. Please do not send cash.

Mail all entries to:

Hackney Literary Awards
Birmingham-Southern College
Box 549066
Birmingham, AL 35254

Should you have any questions, please e-mail sbarr@bsc.edu.

2007 Winners

Novel:

Blue Eyes Don’t Cry
Sandra Kolankiewicz
Marietta, OH

National Short Story

1. Jason Wiener, Somerville, MA
2. Deirdra McAfee, Richmond, VA
3. Ben Norwood, Franklin, TN

National Poetry

1. Gladys Poppy Perez-Bashier, Brooklyn, NY
2. Jeannine Dobbs, Merrimack, NH
3. Cassandra Windwalker, Fort Collins, CO

State Short Story

1. Claire Burgess, Homewood, AL
2. Marlin Barton, Montgomery AL
3. Thomas Tucker, Thomas TuckerL

State Poetry

1. James Mersmann, Columbiana, AL
2. Sue Scalf, Prattville AL
3. Mary Evelyn Hollaway, Birmingham AL