The University of Nebraska Press has been publishing prestigious, award-winning literature for 75 years, but this contest is a first for UNP. In celebration of our 75th anniversary, UNP will publish a volume of fiction, nonfiction and poetry written by Nebraska undergraduate college students and high school seniors.

Students are invited to submit their contributions in fiction, memoir, poetry, academic essay, and literary and other textual analysis integrating the theme “Voices of Nebraska: Diverse Landscapes, Diverse Peoples.” This is a singular opportunity for Nebraska’s budding writers to continue a long tradition and join the ranks of UNP’s published writers.

“The award-winning University of Nebraska Press is a rare literary gem,” said Joy Castro, author and associate English professor at UNL. “It brings world literature to Nebraska and shares the work of Nebraska’s exceptional writers with the world.”

The works will encompass the idea of Nebraska’s diverse geography and people. Submissions can embrace or contradict Nebraska’s stereotypes by drawing from experiences, people, authors, land, traditions, history or anything else related to the good life.

“University of Nebraska Press has published books and authors of the highest quality from all over the world, but we are especially proud of the works we publish by authors from Nebraska and the region,” said UNP director Donna Shear. “It seems only fitting that we should solicit works by young Nebraskans and publish a book of the best contributions, in honor of our anniversary.”

The deadline for submissions is Dec. 1.

An internal panel of UNP judges will select the submissions to be included in the volume based on each work’s adherence to the theme and quality of writing. From the submissions selected by the internal panel, an external panel will select the top five submissions. Winners will be announced in April 2016.

Winning submissions will be published in a special 75th anniversary anthology. Along with pride and prestige, all winners will receive a copy of the book. The top five winners selected by the judges will each receive a cash prize of $75. The volume will be available for purchase through the University of Nebraska Press website.

For a complete list of guidelines and more information about the contest, go to http://nebraskapress.unl.edu/pages/75thAnniversaryLiteraryContest.aspx.

For more information about the University of Nebraska Press, go to http://nebraskapress.unl.edu/catalog/CategoryInfo.aspx?cid=152.