Syracuse University Press Announces Its Inaugural Veterans Writing Award

In keeping with Syracuse University’s longstanding commitment to serving the interests of veterans and their families and recognizing the role a university press can play in giving voice to emerging writers, Syracuse University Press, in cooperation with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), has established a Veterans Writing Award.

Syracuse University Press invites unpublished, full-length novels or short story collections in manuscript form for consideration. This contest is open to U.S. veterans and active duty personnel in any branch of the U.S. military and their immediate family members. Entrants must not have published a volume of fiction previously. Women veteran writers and veterans of color are encouraged to submit.

Although work submitted for the contest need not engage direct military experience, Syracuse University Press seeks original voices and fresh perspectives that will expand and challenge readers’ understanding of the lives of veterans and their families. Finalists will be read by award-winning novelist, short story writer, Vietnam veteran, and former Syracuse University faculty member Tobias Wolff, and the winning entry will be announced in September of 2019.

The submission period will open Dec. 15, 2018, and close Feb. 15, 2019. There is no fee for submission. Complete rules and submission details forthcoming.

The inaugural Veterans Writing Award Advisory Board includes the following members:

Kyle Bass, Department of Drama Instructor, Associate Director of Syracuse Stage, Playwright

Christopher Kennedy, Professor, English Department, and Director, MFA in Creative Writing Program

Eileen Schell, Professor, Writing and Rhetoric, Director of Graduate Studies and Co-leader of the Syracuse Veterans’ Writing Group

Daniel Piston, Program Evaluation Manager, IVMF

Kicia Sears, Program Evaluation Manager, IVMF

Suzanne Guiod, Editor in Chief, Syracuse University Press

Lisa Kuerbis, Marketing Coordinator, Syracuse University Press

For questions, contact Lisa Kuerbis at lkuerbis@syr.edu.