Creative writing scholarship contest seeks entries

Rita Riddle

Rita Riddle

Entries are now being accepted for the annual Rita Riddle Creative Writing Scholarship, co-sponsored by Radford University’s Department of English and the Southern Appalachian Writers Cooperative (SAWC).

The scholarship, valued at more than $800, will fund admission to the Appalachian Writers Workshop at the Hindman Settlement School in Hindman, Ky., this summer. The winner will also receive a scholarship valued at $250 to attend SAWC's annual fall workshop.

The teaching staff for this year's summer workshop, set for July 28-Aug. 2, includes authors Fenton Johnson, Holly Goddard Jones and Silas House; poet Tony Crunk; and writer and documentarian Gurney Norman. Novelist and essayist Barbara Kingsolver, best known for her books "The Poisonwood Bible" and "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle," will give the keynote address.

Submission deadline is March 7, with award notification on April 19. Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply.

The following are criteria for entry:

  • Submit in one genre only, and indicate that genre in a cover letter.
  • Limit manuscript submissions to the following number of pages: novel or memoir, 20 or fewer pages showing progress on a work; nonfiction or short story, 10 to 15 pages; poetry, 10 poems, no more than 15 pages.
  • All manuscripts except poetry must be double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, 12-point type and no unusual fonts.
  • Submit three copies of the manuscript with name on only one copy (two copies should have no name included).
  • A cover sheet must include name, address, email, phone number, RU ID and genre of submission.

Entries must be submitted Loren Phillips, secretary, Department of English, Russell 142.

The scholarship does not include transportation costs. Carpooling may be available but cannot be guaranteed. Previous winners of the scholarship are not eligible.

The late Rita Riddle was an English professor at Radford for many years and an active writer and poet. She was a mentor to student writers and a strong advocate for keeping Appalachian heritage alive through writing. Read more online about her life and career.


Jan 29, 2013
Bonnie Erickson
(540) 831-5804
broberts@radford.edu