Big Write

The Big Write

The Galesburg Public Library’s Annual Creative Writing Contest

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library

Part of Galesburg Public Library’s NEA Big Read of In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez. NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

Congratulations to the 2020 winners! Click here to see the list. Thank you to everyone who entered, to our judges, and to the Friends of the Library for sponsoring the prizes.

The submission deadline is 11:59 pm on Monday, March 29, 2021.

Submission Guidelines: 

(A paper copy of the Submission Guidelines can be picked up in the library’s vestibules.)

Three categories of submissions are being accepted:

• Short Stories
• Nonfiction essays (for adults only)
• Poetry and song lyrics

Submissions will be grouped into four levels:

• Adult
• 9th to 12th grade
• 6th to 8th grade
• 3rd to 5th grade

Cash Prizes!

Up to three winners in each age group and category will be awarded prizes of $10 to $25.

• All submissions must be the original and creative work of the person submitting them and should have been written within the last year.
• Each contestant may submit up to two short stories and two poems. Adults may also submit up to two nonfiction essays.
• The submissions do not have to be written exclusively for the Big Write; they may be submitted to other contests.
• No information identifying the entrant may be included on any pages except the cover page. The cover page should include the contestant’s name, street address, email address if available, and phone number if available. The cover page should also specify the contestant’s level (adult, 9th-12th grade, 6th-8th grade, or 3rd-5th grade).
• Short stories (and nonfiction essays for adults only) must be typed in 12 point type and can be no longer than 8 pages double-spaced.
• Poems and stories submitted electronically may be published in a local newspaper or online. Submission indicates your permission for the entry to be published. No short stories or poems will be returned.
• Writers can reside outside the Galesburg/Knox County area.

Materials may be emailed to bigwrite@galesburglibrary.org, dropped off in person at the library (in the bookdrop if we are not open), or emailed to Writing Contest, Galesburg Public Library, 40 E. Simmons St., Galesburg, Il 61401. Electronic submissions are preferred. Contest winners only will be notified in the middle of May. A list of winners will be available at the library. A reception is scheduled for May 22 at 2:00 pm.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Galesburg Public Library, the 2020 Big Write is part of Galesburg Public Library’s NEA Big Read of In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez. NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. For more information about The Big Write or The Big Read, call 309-343-6118 or email reference@galesburglibrary.org.