Imagine that you win a short story contest, and you want to meet with the person who donated the money, but that person wants to stay anonymous.
The English department of WCU has announced a short story contest called “Beyond The Frame” where students can submit short stories for a cash prize.
The short stories need to be original and inspired by a painting named “Boat Dock,” a privately owned painting.
“It doesn’t need to be about the painting, it just needs to be inspired by it,” an English professor and the department head, Annette Debo, said. Debo helped plan the short story contest.
“I think we chose that word perfectly.”
Debo and the English department chose the word “inspired” for the poster for the contest to help students create completely original work.
“An inspiration can lead to many different types of short stories,” Debo said.
The contest isn’t only limited to English students at WCU. Emma Craig, a sophomore majoring in psychology is also competing in the short story contest.
“I really enjoy writing, and it’s a good opportunity to flex my creative muscles,” Craig said.
Pieces of art that are based on other works of art are called ekphrastic pieces of art. While some people find these pieces to be straining, Craig enjoys writing in this style.
“I think it’s very freeing,” Craig said. “You have the ability to look at a painting and then understand internally what it makes you feel, and then write about that.”
An anonymous donor who owns the painting used is sponsoring the short story contest. The short stories are due March 15. They have to be 3.000 words or less and you can submit them in the Literary Festival website underneath the description of the contest. The donor also chose the painting for the short story contest.
“All I know is that the donor is interested in creativity,” Debo said. “This is the first time this has happened while I’ve been here at WCU.”
Debo believes that the donor created this short story contest as “a way to encourage WCU students to create art.”
“I feel more respect towards the person who donated this money,” Craig said when asked about the anonymous donor. “Knowing that this is an anonymous donor makes me want to write this story more because it’s someone who actually wants to invest in people’s creative works.”
Professors in the English department will decide the winner of the contest. The contest winner will be unveiled during the Literary Festival from April 7 to 10. The winner of the short story contest will win $5,000, the second place will win $2,500 and the third place will win $1,000.
This isn’t the only short story contest planned for the Literary Festival. High schoolers can get their writing known by applying for the high school competition planned for all students. These stories are due March 7.
There is also another competition for undergraduates, as well as a competition for graduate students to apply for as well.
For more information, or to submit a short story, go to litfestival.org
