HMV Writing Contest Rules
Who is eligible?
Any Trine University student is eligible to submit.
How many pieces can I submit?
You can submit one piece to each category. For poetry, you can submit up to three
poems as one entry. The same entry cannot be submitted to different categories.
Is there a length requirement?
Pieces cannot be longer than 5,000 words.
What are the categories?
- Academic:
These submissions can include research papers, argumentative or persuasive essays, rhetorical and literary analyses, and the like. - Creative Nonfiction:
These entries are true stories written in vivid, compelling styles. Literacy and personal narratives, memoirs, journalistic work, reflections, and profiles are all examples of creative or literary non-fiction. - Fiction:
Imaginative short-stories which should include a beginning, middle, and end. - Poetry:
All genres and forms are welcome.
What can I win?
All winners will have their work published online and in print; authors will receive
a free copy of the printed book. Additionally, winners will be recognized at a University
awards ceremony, where cash prizes and certificates will be awarded.
What are the prizes?
Per category:
- First Prize: $100
- Second Prize: $50
- Third Prize: $25
- Honorable Mention: $15
- Student Choice Award: $10
Judges reserve the right to award prizes as they see fit. For example, only one prize may be awarded in a category, and judges reserve the right to move entries to more appropriate categories.
Do I lose rights to my work?
All entries remain the property of their original author, but the author grants Inscriptions,
Trine University, and the Department of Humanities and Communication permission to
publish pieces online and in print. Prior to publication, works may be copy edited.