Dylan Days calls for 2009 writing contest entries

Dylan Days calls for 2009 writing contest entries

HIBBING, Minn. (Jan. 5, 2009) – Dylan Days announces its annual call for poetry, short fiction and one act plays for the Dylan Days Creative Writing Contest. The deadline is March 15, 2009.

First, Second and Third prizes will be awarded to writers in poetry and short fiction categories, in both open and student divisions. First Prize wins $100, Second Prize wins $50 and Third Prize wins $25. Honorable mentions will also be named. All winning entries appear in the Dylan Days literary journal, “Talkin’ Blues,” providing many first-time publication credits for emerging writers and poets.

The Dylan Days Creative Writing Contest has honored student and up-and-coming writers from as close as northern Minnesota and as far away as England for the past seven years.

“We’ve received entries from all populated continents, most states and nearly every town in Minnesota,” said Aaron Brown, contest coordinator and Dylan Days co-chair. “What they all have in common is the creative passion of the writers, similar to that of a young Iron Ranger named Bobby Zimmerman. Other than that, they don’t have much in common at all.”

In the popular open one act playwright competition, one winner will be named along with finalists. The winning playwright will receive $100 and have their work performed on the Hibbing Community College stage during Dylan Days as the featured entertainment for our annual Literary Showcase. The play will be cast with experienced actors and directed by Michael Ricci, the award-winning director of the HCC theatre program whose acclaimed work has included "Tommy," "Hair," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Amadeus," and many more. Last year’s winner, “Lessons and Carols” was written by New York playwright Demetra Kareman and performed on the HCC stage with Iron Range actors.

Entries for the poetry and short fiction divisions must be turned in through the contest’s online submission process at www.dylandays.com. One act plays must be submitted through the mail to Mike Ricci at Hibbing Community College, 1515 E. 25th St., Hibbing, MN, 55746. Rules are posted at the same website.

“Entries don’t have to emulate or be about Bob Dylan or his style of writing,” said Brown. “In fact, the best entries are always the ones that represent a unique literary voice; something we haven’t seen before. It’s a very competitive contest, but new and emerging writers often find themselves successful at Dylan Days.”

For more information, e-mail Dylan Days co-chair Aaron Brown at aaronbrown@hibbing.edu or consult the website at www.dylandays.com.