Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival Adds Flash Fiction to its Writing Contests

Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival is now accepting entries for its 2017-18 Fiction, Poetry, and One-Act Play Contests, plus a new category: Very Short Fiction.

Bestselling novelist Justin Torres (We the Animals) will judge the new contest in flash fiction, with entries being no more than 1,000 words. Celebrated poet Jericho Brown will preside over the Poetry Contest. The One-Act Play Contest will be judged by Pulitzer-nominated playwright Lisa D'Amour (Detroit), with award-winning novelist Jennifer Haigh judging the Fiction category.

"Our contests are a vital part of our Festival's mission to nurture young literary talent," said executive director Paul J. Willis. "We're proud that our winners have gone on to other achievements, landing major agents and book deals, as well as theater productions."

Previous winners include David Lindsay-Abaire (Pulitzer winner for his play Rabbit Hole), Kristen-Paige Madonia (Young Adult author of Invisible Fault Lines), and New Orleans native Kent Wascom, who published his second novel, Secessia to great acclaim in 2015.

Emerging writers are encouraged to submit work for a chance to win the generous awards, which include grand cash prizes of $500 - $1,500, a trip to New Orleans, VIP Festival passes, public readings at the 2018 Festival (March 21-25, 2018), and publication. Full guidelines for each contest are available online at www.tennesseewilliams.net. Contest deadlines are in November but early submission is encouraged.

The Festival's LGBTQ literary conference, the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival is also accepting entries for its Short Fiction Contest. Novelist Radclyffe will select a grand prize winner ($500) and two second place honorees. All top stories will be included in the SAS anthology published by Bold Stroke Books. The deadline is October 3, and full guidelines are at http://sasfest.org/.

About the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival
The Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival celebrates the genius of Tennessee Williams, who once called our city his "spiritual home," and the contemporary artists who are as honest and unflinching in their examination of the human condition as our patron playwright. Founded in 1986 by a group of cultural enthusiasts, the Festival has grown from a small gathering of 500 to a five-day literary event, which sees 12,000+ seats filled each year. In late March, we toast Williams' birthday with theater, literary panels, food, and music events featuring literary luminaries and the brightest new talents in American arts. For more information, visit www.tennesseewilliams.net or find us @TWFestNOLA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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