NCTE/Norman Mailer Writing Award (full details) The Norman Mailer Writers Colony and the National Council of Teachers of English will jointly sponsor the 2010 Norman Mailer High School and College Writing Awards.

Writing Category: Creative Nonfiction Norman Mailer produced extraordinary works in many genres, including the category of this year’s award: creative nonfiction. Students may submit work in any of the many subgenres of creative nonfiction: memoir or autobiography, essay, literary journalism, profiles of people or places, and so on. Whatever its type, the best work will be true material presented with compelling literary merit. 

One winner in each category will receive a cash award and will be an honored guest at the Colony’s National Award Ceremony in New York City on October 19, 2010. Winners will be notified by mid-September. Finalists, Semifinalists Four finalists in each category will be awarded trophies. Sixteen semifinalists in each category will be awarded certificates.

Follow up:

High School Competition is open to all high school students. Students may submit one or more pieces of writing, maximum 10 single-spaced pages, endorsed by a teacher and released by a parent or guardian. Winner will receive the following:

• Cash award of $5,000
• *Travel and lodging to attend the Colony’s National Award Ceremony
• Entries accepted April 1–April 29, 2010, Noon CST

Two-Year College Competition is open to first-and second-year full-time students enrolled in community colleges, junior colleges, and technical colleges. Maximum 15 single-spaced pages. Winner will receive the following:

• Cash award of $5,000
• *Travel and lodging to attend the Colony’s National Award Ceremony
• Entries accepted April 1–April 29, 2010, Noon CST

Four-Year College Competition is open to current full-time undergraduate students. Maximum 15 single-spaced pages. Winner will receive the following:

• Cash award of $10,000
• Scholarship to the Norman Mailer Writers Colony during the summer of 2011
• *Travel and lodging to attend the Colony’s National Award Ceremony
• Entries accepted April 1–April 29, 2010, Noon CST

Travel Limitations*

• Funding for travel is limited to the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii.
• Canadian and other foreign students are eligible to enter.
• Outside of the U.S. a $500.00 USD payment toward travel will be allowed.
• Hotel will be paid as for students in the U.S.

Submission Guidelines:

• Entries will be accepted online only and may include one or more pieces of writing.
• Submissions will be judged as a whole, not as individual writings.
• Maximum 10 single-spaced pages for high school and maximum 15 single-spaced pages for college entries.
• Quality is far more important than quantity.

Formatting Guidelines:

• The writing you upload must include a title, your name, and page numbers within your file.
• Please use a plain, common, and easily readable font, such as Times New Roman, 11- or 12-point.
• Accepted file types: .pdf, .doc, .docx, and .txt (maximum file size: 8 megabytes).