Award Cycle: Fall
Aims and Eligibility
Submissions are accepted from active Sigma Kappa Delta members only. Alumni/ae members are not eligible.
Each entry must be submitted separately. Each member may submit up to three poems and three prose (short fiction, personal essay, or literary essay) works. Prose manuscripts should not exceed 2,500 words, and literary analyses should include no secondary sources.
Common Reader Award
The Sigma Kappa Delta Common Reader Award recognizes exceptional written work by SKD members in response to the year’s Common Reader selection. This award celebrates thoughtful engagement, critical insight, and original interpretation of the featured text.
Short Fiction Writing Award
The Sigma Kappa Delta Short Fiction Writing Award honors exceptional original fiction written by SKD members. This award recognizes creativity, storytelling skill, and literary craftsmanship in narrative writing.
Literary Analysis Writing Award
The Sigma Kappa Delta Literary Analysis Writing Award celebrates the most insightful and well-crafted analytical essays submitted by SKD members. This award recognizes excellence in critical thinking, interpretation, and academic writing focused on literature.
Personal Essay Writing Award
The Sigma Kappa Delta Personal Essay Writing Award recognizes outstanding personal essays submitted by SKD members. This award celebrates authentic voice, reflective insight, and excellence in expressive, narrative nonfiction writing.
Poetry Writing Award
The Sigma Kappa Delta Poetry Writing Award honors outstanding original poetry submitted by SKD members. This award recognizes exceptional talent, creativity, and literary expression in verse.
Submission Guidelines
- The electronic version must be in .doc format (.pdf format will not be accepted).
- DO NOT identify yourself on any page of the submission.
- The Word Document (.doc format) electronic copy must be typed (Times New Roman/12 point Font), double-spaced with one-inch margins.
- Literary analyses must follow the format and documentation style defined in the latest edition of MLA. A works cited page must be included in the submission. Since a literary analysis is a close reading of a work and not a research paper, submissions using secondary sources will be disqualified.
- Each entry must be submitted separately.
- You will be required during the submission process to initial a waiver form indicating that no previous copyrighted publication of the work(s) has occurred, you did not commit plagiarism, and granting the editors of Hedera helix the right to edit your work for correctness and style.
- Prose manuscripts should not exceed 2,500 words.
How to Apply
Submissions for Writing Awards are accepted through AwardSpring. The link to access the Sigma Kappa Delta AwardSpring platform will be posted on the AwardSpring Application page of our website during the Fall Awards Cycle.
If you are using AwardSpring for the first time, you must create an account by clicking “Register.” If you have used AwardSpring previously, you should login using your email address and existing password.
Deadlines
View the Opportunities Overview page for the Writing Awards application windows.
Questions
Address questions to skd@niu.edu.
