THE 2011 WISCONSIN PEOPLE & IDEAS / WISCONSIN BOOK FESTIVAL SHORT STORY AND POETRY CONTESTS OPEN SEPTEMBER 15
Wisconsin People & Ideas regularly publishes some of the best poetry and fiction from around the state, and now it's your chance to become a part of Wisconsin's new literary canon. Enter your poems and short stories in our annual contests, which run from this September 15 to December 15, and receive up to $500 and other prizes along with publication in Wisconsin People & Ideas and a reading at the 2011 Wisconsin Book Festival in Madison. In addition, first-place winners will receive a one-week stay at Edenfred creative arts residency in the Madison Highlands, courtesy of the Terry Family Foundation.

About the Short Story Contest
Short story contest winners will be chosen by author Valerie Laken. Winners receive prizes of $500 (first place), $250 (second place), and $100 (third place). Winning works appear serially beginning with the first-prize story in the summer 2011 issue of Wisconsin People & Ideas. The first-place story author will receive a one-week stay at Edenfred. For details and rules, visit our 2011 Short Story Contest page.

About the Poetry Contest
Poetry contest winners will be chosen by poet Angela Rydell. Winners receive prizes of $500 (first place, the John Lehman Poetry Award), $100 (second place), and $50 (third place). Winning poems appear in the spring 2011 issue of Wisconsin People & Ideas, with 10 runners-up in the summer and fall 2011 issues. The first-prize poet receives a one-week stay at Edenfred and a three-hour CD recording/editing session at Abella Studios. For details and rules, visit our 2011 Poetry Contest page.

The top three winners of both contests will be invited to read their work at a special event at the Wisconsin Book Festival during October 2011. The Wisconsin People & Ideas / Wisconsin Book Festival Short Story Contest is supported by the Wisconsin Humanities Council, Avol's Bookstore, Abella Studio, Wisconsin Public Television, and the Terry Family Foundation. Thank you to all of our 2011 contest sponsors.