New Works Competition
As part of the Hugo Literary Series we are seeking poems, short stories, personal essays or plays, of no more than 1,500 words. The theme is “Answered Prayers and Other Tragedies,” and the winner will receive $500 and an invitation to read at the final Hugo Literary Series event at Town Hall (
The New Works Competition is open to members and non members but entrants must be a resident of
Manuscript requirements:
1. Please send a $5 entry fee—we can accept cash or a check/money order to Richard Hugo House. You may enter as many times as you'd like, as long as you pay an entry fee for each story.2. Manuscripts must be no more than 1500 words and should be double spaced, with one-inch margins and 12 pt. type. The author's name should not appear on the manuscript. Include one cover sheet with title, author's name, address, phone and e-mail address. The title should appear on the first page of the manuscript or, in the case of poetry, at the top of each poem. Please number your pages.
3. Send a total of three (3) copies of your manuscript and one copy of your cover sheet.
4. We cannot return manuscripts, so please keep a copy!
5. You must live in WA, OR, MT or ID.
6. Submissions must be postmarked by Jan. 11, 2008. (We will start accepting submissions Dec. 1, 2007.)
We live in an era in which the pursuit of happiness is relentless, and completely predicated on getting what we want—the right car, the perfect mate, the dream job. Yet Oscar Wilde once remarked that “There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it.” Is he right? What happens when our dreams come true? Is there a downside to answered prayers?
