Calvin Grad Weighs In On Vampires

As you know, the Calvin English department is practically a vampire think-tank these days, what with entire courses devoted to serious study of vampire lit (thanks, Prof. Williams!). So it's nice to see that our grads are contributing cultural wisdom to the broader conversation about the vampire craze. Check out this great essay by Elaine Schnabel ('11), just published in the very hip, very interesting online journal Pop Matters.

Elaine is now teaching English in Korea. She writes a mean blog post, too, so check out her accounts of life in Korea. (I have her permission to share this link.)

Academy of American Poets Student Poetry Prize

Attention all undergraduate poets:

Here's your chance to enter this year's Academy of American Poets Student Poetry Prize.

The contest is open to any current undergraduate at Calvin.

Please follow these rules to enter:

SUBMIT up to 3 poems

MANUSCRIPTS should be typewritten (one side only, please), and each poem should be titled.

YOUR NAME MUST NOT APPEAR ANYWHERE ON THE MANUSCRIPT.

Instead, the manuscript should be accompanied by a cover sheet with the following information: author's
name, address, phone number, e-mail address (if available), and titles of the poems submitted.

Submissions that do not follow this format will be disqualified.

DEADLINE: Friday, March 9, 2012

LOCATION: English Dept., CFAC; turn in submissions to Becky Moon at the front desk.

WINNER ANNOUNCED IN APRIL

Journalism and Environmental Studies Opportunity

Passionate about journalism and the environment? Looking for opportunities to display that passion? Then check it out:

Are you a writer with an interest in environmental issues? The Rapidian and the West Michigan Environmental Action Council need YOU! We are currently seeking writers for the new Environmental News Bureau.

• All of the writers are citizen journalists. While writers are not paid, citizen journalism provides a great opportunity to hone writing skills, meet other writers and people who share your passions, and gain valuable experience.
• Ideally, writers for the Environmental Bureau will submit at least four stories per year to help the bureau maintain a strong presence and keep environmental issues that impact West Michigan in the limelight.
• The Rapidian is hosting an orientation for all writers interested in contributing to The Environmental Bureau at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at the WMEAC offices. We would love to see you there!

If you have questions, please feel free to call Bridie Bereza at (616) 710-2189. If you are unable to make the orientation on the 31st but do want to write for The Environmental Bureau, just let me know so I can fill you in after the fact and add you to the e-mail list for writers.

Writers' Retreat Applications--Now Available!

Attention Writers:

 

Application forms for the 2012 English Department Writers' Retreat are now available in the English office.  Fill one out, and return it no sooner than Monday, February 13, at 8:00 a.m.

(Writers hard at work at a previous retreat)

Christian Home and School Magazine Contest ($100 for the winner)

Attention Calvin writers: Christian Home and School Magazine Contest is a great opportunity to enter a writing contest, win $100, and expose your writing to thousands of readers!


Here are the details:

Christian Schools International is currently running a writing contest for college students on the topic of “The Top 5 Things I Most Valued about my Internship/Study Aboard Program”. The goal of this submission is to encourage high school students to seriously consider internship and study aboard programs in college and how they could help shape their future careers. The winning submission will have their piece published in the upcoming High School issue of Christian Home & School magazine due out in May, and an honorarium of $100.00.


Christian Schools International is an educational organization that serves Christian schools. It provides the support, products and expertise that thousands of Christian school teachers, administrators, and parents have learned to rely on daily. Christian Home & School magazine is one of the ways that their organization helps support parents of Christian school students. Our special High School issue of Christian Home & School magazine is published each May and reaches 14,000 high school students and their families.


Contest Entry Guidelines:
•Entries must be around 500 words
•Entries must be written and submitted by current college students
•Target audience for this issue is Christian high school students
•Submissions need to be submitted via email to Rachael Heyboer, Managing Editor of Christian Home & School, at rheyboer@csionline.org
•Deadline is March 5, 2012

MSDO Poetry Jam/Slam

Ever wanted to be part of a poetry jam/slam?

The Multicultural Student Development Office (MSDO) is having a Poetry Jam on Wednesday, February 8. The Poetry Jam is an event that occurs once a semester. In the past, this event involved Calvin students to read/share a poem he/she has written.

For the next upcoming Poetry Jam, MSDO wants to have three to four individuals read/perform. Each person has a two to four minute time frame. If anyone is interested in performing or can recommend names of individuals, please contact Mai Nou Yang at my22@students.calvin.edu by February 2nd.

This next upcoming Poetry Jam will also add an additional part call ‘Poetry Slam.’ This will take place in the second half of the Poetry Jam night. It is a competition, and there are rules. Anyone can enter, but participants will have to pay a fee of $5. The winner will receive a prize. Individuals do not have to sign up for this part of the event ahead of time; however, if you could help spread the word that will be great!

Ruminate's Nonfiction Competition: Call for Entries

If you're wondering if you should submit to Ruminate's nonfiction competition, you should. Not only is it a good opportunity to learn about the submission and competition processes, there's also a nice cash prize to make the entry fee worthwhile.

The judge is Leslie Leyland Fields, a perennial guest of Festival of Faith and Writing.

Some further encouragement: Alissa Goudswaard came in last year in the top 8.  No reason why a Calvin student can't do even better this year. (Alissa's almost-winning essay has now been published, as noted in a recent blog post.)

 

 Below is the information and details:

Greetings! We'd be so grateful if you could share this call for entries for Ruminate's upcoming nonfiction contest--perhaps posting it in your department newsletter and/or sharing it with students and colleagues. Thank you for any time or attention you can give to this. Sincerely, The Ruminate Staff Call for Entries: Ruminate Magazine's 2012 VanderMey Nonfiction Prize Ruminate Magazine is pleased to announce our 2nd annual creative nonfiction contest--the 2012 VanderMey Nonfiction Prize. We are pleased to share that this year's finalist judge is author and editor Leslie Leyland Fields. The entry fee is $15 and the winning prize is $1000 and publication in the Summer 2012 Issue. The deadline has been extended to February 1st. Writers may view the full guidelines and submit their work via the Ruminate website.

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