Deadline: Tuesday April 22, Midnight
Guidelines
1. All entries must be original work. While artificial intelligence or human feedback may be used to explore ideas or receive constructive criticism, artificial intelligence and outside assistance for the purposes of composition is not allowed. Outside assistance in the final preparation of the text (such as typing and formatting) is permitted. Questions relating to other types of outside assistance should be directed to members of the English Department or to Mr. Nied, the English Chair.
3. All entries must be: 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Poetry can be single or double spaced, but fiction and non-fiction must be double-spaced.
4. A student may only submit one entry per category.
5. There are three levels of competition and cash prizes for winning entries for each level:
Novice: Forms I and II
- Categories: Poetry, Fiction, and Non-Fiction
- Prizes: $50.00 in each category
Junior High: Forms III and IV
- Categories: Poetry, Fiction, and Non-Fiction
- Prizes: $75.00 in each category
High School: Forms V-VIII
- Categories: Poetry, Fiction, and Non-Fiction
- Prizes: 125.00 in each category
6. A GRAND PRIZE for excellence is awarded to the most outstanding entry in the entire competition: one award of $250.00
7. Note that Non-Fiction entries at all levels exclude such items as term papers, science projects, history class reports, or family histories.
8. All entries must observe the following limits regarding length:
- Poetry: 100 lines; Fiction: 2500 words; Non-Fiction: 1500 words
9. No entry may have been submitted to a previous Cistercian Literary Competition. An entry previously submitted to other writing contests such as library contests, or outside competitions are allowed.
10. Any award may be withheld if the quality of the entries is lacking or the number of entries is too small. (Determined by the English Dept.)
11. Any entry may be ruled ineligible because of objectionable content, plagiarism, or unacceptable outside assistance including artificial intelligence. (Determined by the English Dept.)
12. All entries will be automatically submitted for consideration to Reflections magazine unless the student indicates on the cover sheet that he would prefer it not be considered for publication.
Entry link and guidelines
Entry link and guidelines are found on the library website.