No. We accept poetry, fiction, drama, short stories, and combinations of those genres. Some students have chosen to submit entries written as letters and diary entries. But essays are acceptable as well.

Submissions will be judged for their originality, creativity, and writing style. We encourage creativity, but not at the expense of clarity. It’s important to respond to our prompt in a way judges can understand.

We hope to have results about which students are finalists by mid-November. We will let each of you know personally, by email, whether or not your work was chosen.

Yes, in both the junior and senior categories combined. The first-place winner (chosen from the junior and senior classes) will receive the Walter Edgar Award, which includes $1,000. The prize is generously funded by South Carolina Honors College alumnus Thad Westbrook and named for the well-known University of South Carolina history professor, author and public radio host. The second-place winner (chosen from the junior and senior classes) will receive the South Carolina Academy of Authors Award. Generously funded by the South Carolina Academy of Authors, the second-place prize includes $500. The third-place winner will receive the Pat Conroy Literary Center and South Carolina Academy of Authors Award. The third-place prize includes $250. Honorable Mentions may be given. There are no cash awards for Honorable Mentions.

No. The money is yours to do with as you wish.

The contest is a partnership presented by the South Carolina Honors College at the University of South Carolina, the Pat Conroy Literary Center, the South Carolina State Library, the South Carolina Academy of Authors and the South Carolina Writers Association.

Yes. You do not have to be college-bound at all.

No. While we recognize the value of spoken word literature, the contest is based on writing skills. Perhaps your spoken word work can be written. 

Yes.  Otherwise we have no idea if the writer is making up facts. Rather than using footnotes, we suggest a more reader-friendly method, i.e., South Carolina has more rabid wild animals prowling its neighborhoods—44 percent more—than any other state, according to a 2014 report from the U.S. Rabid Wild Animal Department.  

It is okay for your teacher to proofread your work, but you should indicate following your submission that you received the help. This is a writing contest, not an editing or grammar contest. We are interested in hearing your voice and your response to the prompt. You can simply write: “I want to thank Ms. Laura Ingalls Wilder, my English teacher, for proofreading my final draft.” Or, “I want to thank Mr. Atticus Finch, my government teacher, for encouraging me to revise the ending.” If your submitted work is entirely your own production, you may indicate that at the end: “I received no proofreading or editing assistance. This submission is entirely my own work.”

This year's finalists will have their work reviewed by the 2023 writing contest judge Felicia Mitchell. The poet and writer grew up in South Carolina, graduating from the University of South Carolina (BA, MA). After receiving a Ph.D. at The University of Texas at Austin, she enjoyed a long career as a writing specialist at Emory & Henry College in Virginia, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 2020. She has published a few books of poetry, including "A Mother Speaks, A Daughter Listens," and has enjoyed sharing creative nonfiction in various publications through the years, including more recently as a blogger for "Cure Today."

We prefer Word documents and have no preference about fonts, though one that is easy to read is helpful.

No. The form you complete online will serve as your cover page. It’s nice, but not necessary, to have your byline at the top of your submission.