Monday, July 16, 2012

Call for Graphic Narratives: Drake University Emerging Writer Award

The Drake University Writers & Critics Series is accepting submissions for its fourth annual Drake University Emerging Writer Award. The faculty and students of Drake University’s English Department select one outstanding first book from among the entries, and the author receives an honorarium of $1000 plus travel and lodging expenses to read at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. The author is also invited to judge the graphic narrative year-end awards of Periphery, Drake’s student literary journal, compensated with a small additional honorarium.

Each year, the award rotates among genres (short fiction in 2010, literary nonfiction in 2011, and poetry in 2012). We are currently accepting submissions for an award to go to an author/illustrator who has published a first book-length graphic narrative and who shows promise as an emerging writer/artist. Drake University will host a gallery exhibition of the winner’s work and will invite the winner to speak at Drake during April 2013.

Submit Electronically:
An electronic copy of the book (pdf preferred) should be submitted by the author or publisher here.

The cover letter should include a brief biography, contact information for the author, and a statement affirming that this is his/her first book-length graphic narrative publication. Each submission requires a $15.00 entry fee. Entries must be received by August 31, 2012. Materials received after August 31 will not be considered. Drake University English Department will take reasonable measures to control the pdf so that it will only be viewed by judges for judging purposes. Artists concerned about security may add a watermark to the pages indicating that the pdf is “for Drake University Emerging Writer Judging Purposes Only."

Alternatively you may Submit by Mail:
Entries may be submitted by the author or the publisher, and must include a copy of the book; a cover letter that includes a brief biography, contact information for the author, and a statement affirming that this is his/her first book-length graphic narrative publication; a self-addressed stamped envelope for notification of the award winner/award results; and a $15.00 entry fee payable to "Drake University." Entries must be postmarked by August 31, 2012. Materials postmarked after August 31 will not be considered. Entries will not be returned and will become the property of the Drake University English Department.

If submitting by mail, send all materials to:

Drake University Emerging Writer Award
c/o Jennifer Perrine and Amy Letter
Writers and Critics Series
English Department, Howard Hall
Drake University
2507 University Ave
Des Moines, IA 50311

The winner will be notified by January 31, 2013. All entrants will be notified of the results in February 2013. This year, the award is open to first book-length graphic narratives only. Authors must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must agree to attend and participate in the talk and exhibition at Drake University in April 2013 to receive the award. The following are ineligible for the awards: 1) authors who have published more than one book-length graphic narrative; 2) authors who will be residing outside of North America in April 2013; 3) current students and employees of Drake University.

Submissions by collaborators are welcome, however if collaborators win, the honoraria will be divided between/among them.

For questions about the award or the series, please e-mail:

 jennifer.perrine(at)drake.edu
or amy.letter(at)drake.edu (replace (at) with @)

No comments: