The Society for Humanistic Anthropology announces that we are opening our annual writing contest which celebrates and encourages the use of creative literary genres to explore anthropological concerns associated with any field of anthropology. This year we are expanding our ethnographic fiction competition to include the literary genres of creative nonfiction as well as fiction.
As a guideline, ethnographic fiction and creative nonfiction use literary elements to bring stories to life and engage the reader. Whether fiction or nonfiction, these creative prose pieces reflect insights about the real world seen through an anthropological lens or reflecting an anthropological sensibility.
Submissions should not exceed 20 pages typed double-spaced, and need to work as stand-alone stories. There is a limit of one submission per applicant.
We do expect contestants to be affiliated with the field or practice of anthropology and/or ethnography in some manner. There is no entry fee for this competition. Submission deadline is May 2, 2016.
Please email your entry as two pdf documents to: shafictioncompetition@gmail.com
The entry should consist of two files:
- Your story (double spaced) with title but without the author’s name (anonymized), PLUS an extra final page with a statement of no more than 400 words that answers the question “how is this creative piece anthropologically informed and in what ways has your background in the field contributed to it?” This statement will be taken into account as the judges make their award selections.
- A separate cover page with your full name, title of your submission, mailing address, email address, and institutional affiliation (if applicable).
JUDGES: Julia Offen (Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Editor, Anthropology and Humanism), Jessica Falcone (Associate Professor, Kansas State University), and John Wood (Professor, University of North Carolina Asheville)
Winning entries and honorable mentions will be recognized in a ceremony at the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association in Minneapolis in November 2016.
Winning submissions will be considered for publication in the Society’s journal, Anthropology and Humanism. All winners will receive a certificate, and the first place winner will receive an award of $100.
