Local writers are encouraged to submit their work to an annual creative writing contest in honor of Langston Hughes.
Named after the famous poet who briefly lived in Lawrence during his youth, the 2024 Langston Hughes Creative Writing Award is open for submissions, according to a news release. Community members can submit original poems and fictional and nonfictional stories.
Sponsored by Lawrence Arts Center and Raven Book Store, the Langston Hughes Creative Writing Award is presented annually to one prose writer and one poet who exemplify Hughes’s legacy. Poet Kayla Cook and fiction writer Jenea Havener earned the 2023 awards.
“The Langston Hughes Award seeks to encourage and support poets and writers who, today, are continuing to present their life experiences creatively through poetry, stories and non-fiction prose,” according to the release.
Each winner receives a $500 prize. They’ll also be celebrated at a community event on Hughes’ birthday, Feb. 1, 2024. All applicants will be notified of the status of their submission before the event.
The contest will be judged by local literature and arts professionals, including Danny Caine, Darren Canady, Mercedes Lucero, Huascar Medina, Margaret Morris and Justin Runge.
Submissions will be accepted through Friday, Dec. 24. The previous deadline was extended to offset a website error that didn’t allow submissions for some time.
Douglas County residents who are 21 and older, except for previous winners, are invited to submit their work. There is no entry fee.
Writers who have published a book-length volume of poetry or fiction are also not eligible. Writers with self-published works, such as chapbooks, are exempted from that rule.
See submission guidelines and submit work to the Langston Hughes Creative Writing Award online, via langstonhughesaward.submittable.com.
Past Langston Hughes Award Winners:
2023 Kayla Cook // Jenea Havner (click here to read more)
2022 Faith Maddox // Brett Salsbury (click here to read more)
2020 Kate Lorenz // Tracey Lien
2019 Molly Weisgrau // Jameelah Jones
2018 Kim Condon // Rachel Atakpa
2017 Mercedes Lucero // Chloe Seim
2016 Kate Russell // Tai Amri Spann-Wilson
2015 Alyse Bensel // Matthew O’Connell
2014 Justin Runge // Crystal Boson
2013 Becky Mendelbaum // Brendan Allen
2012 Amy Ash // Callista Buchen // Iris Moulton
2011 Mary Stone Dockery // Beth Reiber
2010 Jeff Tigchelaar // Amy Stuber
2009 Judy Bauer // Nancy Pistorius
2008 Stephen Bunch // John Mark Connolly
2007 Jean Grant // Douglas M. Crawford-Parker
2006 Mary G. Wharff // Christopher Citro
2005 Kevin Rabas // Max Keith Sutton
2004 Tasha Haas // Nedra Rogers
2003 Kelly Barth // Sarah Kanning
2002 Alice Ann White // Thomas Yeahpau
2001 Katrina Vandenberg // John Reimringer
2000 Joy Clumsky // Daniel Dyer
1999 Gary Lechliter // Terry Wierman
1998 Kathleen Johnson // Michele J. Lubbers
1997 Allan Grohe // Barbara Seaman
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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