Valerie Carrington, left, and Thomas Shaffer, right, both Penn State York students majoring in English, review some of the work that has already been submitted to the Penn State York Literary Competition. Carrington and Thomas, along with Yanelis Melendez, also an English major, not pictured, are the editors for the campus' online literary magazine, "Any Other Word." Winning works will be published in the magazine, and dramatic works will be considered for performance on the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) stage. Deadline for submissions is March 2.
YORK, Pa. — Writers of fiction, poetry and drama interested in having their work published or performed should plan to enter the Penn State York Literary Competition sponsored by the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center (The Pullo Center) and “Any Other Word,” the campus’ online literary magazine. This competition is open to Penn State York students.
Submissions are being accepted through Friday, March 2, and the winners will receive cash prizes and have their works published in “Any Other Word.” Dramatic work will also be considered for performance on The Pullo Center stage.
In previous years, The Pullo Center, along with the theatre department, sponsored a play writing contest but this year it was decided to merge that contest with a new one, and offer the opportunity for work to be published as well as performed.
Three prizes will be offered in each category: fiction, poetry and drama. First prize is $75, second is $50 and third place is $25. In the fiction category, a maximum of 20 pages will be accepted; in poetry, between one to five poems can be submitted; and in drama, a maximum of 20 pages will be accepted. Only top quality works will be published and some prizes may not be awarded.
“Any Other Word” editors, Valerie Carrington, Yanelis Melendez and Thomas Shaffer, all Penn State York students majoring in English, will be evaluating works, along with guidance from Noel Sloboda, associate professor of English and adviser to “Any Other Word," and Stuart Stelly, associate teaching professor in English and adviser to the Penn Players, the student theatre group.
“I would like to see 'Any Other Word' continue after I graduate,” said Carrington, a junior from York, Pennsylvania. “The online magazine provides a creative outlet for students to supplement what goes on in the classroom,” she said. “We are looking forward to additional submissions to the contest.”
Works should be submitted to Noel Sloboda at [email protected].
“Any Other Word” was created to showcase literary talents and unite artistic minds. Work on the first issue began in the fall of 2006. The publication takes its name from the quote by William Shakespeare, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet,” from "Romeo and Juliet." View “Any Other Word” here.
