03/22/2021
By John Wooding

Writing Prize Competition: Atlantic Currents II: Campus to Campus

In 2019 we completed a project whose objective was to create connections between two communities (the cities of Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S. and Cork, Ireland) committed to the values and goals of the Learning Cities program of UNESCO. Writers associated with Cork and Lowell were asked to contribute fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, criticism, experimental and mash-up forms on any subject, bearing in mind community standards for humane expression. We had many excellent submissions that resulted in the inclusion of a wide range of writing and poetry by some 40+ authors in an anthology, Atlantic Currents: Connecting Cork and Lowell, published in April 2020 by Loom Press of Lowell, Massachusetts.

To continue to promote and support creative and experiential writing, we are creating a similar anthology containing work written by students and any alumni of the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) and University College Cork (UCC). The competition is open to any currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students and any alumni of UML and UCC.

The funding for this activity is generously provided by the Independent University Alumni Association of the University of Massachusetts Lowell and University College Cork, Ireland.

To encourage and support this work we are offering the following prizes and awards:

  • UML Students: 1st. Prize $500, 2nd. Prize $300, 3rd. Prize $200
  • UML Alumni: 1st. Prize $500, 2nd. Prize $300, 3rd. Prize $200
  • UCC Students: 1st. Prize $500, 2nd. Prize $300, 3rd. Prize $200
  • UCC Alumni: 1st. Prize $500, 2nd. Prize $300, 3rd. Prize $200

An Awards Committee will consist of six contributors to Atlantic Currents: Connecting Cork and Lowell (3 from each city). Their decision will be final. The winning submissions will be published in the anthology Atlantic Currents II: Campus to Campus in the Fall of 2021.

Requirements

Prose (fiction or non-fiction) no longer than 20 double-spaced pages will be accepted. Poems should be no more than 80 lines. Existing or new unpublished work are both acceptable and encouraged.

Topic

The topic should be some aspect of a positive learning experience that the author has experienced in their lifetime. Such experience need not be in an academic or school setting. It may be about a memorable mentor or encompass a life-experience that led to greater understanding of an issue, problem, or event. It may also be about a moment when the author felt or experienced a new insight or revelation (for example, viewing a piece of art, attending a play or a concert).

Submissions should be submitted electronically in Word format, double-spaced, no bold or underlined title, with name and contact information on page one of the submissions. Please contact atlanticcurrents2021@gmail.com if you have any questions about this writing contest. Submission should be emailed to atlanticcurrents2021@gmail.comby June 30, 2021. Winners will be notified by email and be expected to participate in an awards ceremony.