2008 Application (in Word .doc format)
This is the twenty-first year of the Thornton Wilder Writing Competition. It was established in 1987 by the Friends of Hamden Library to honor long term Hamden resident and Pulitzer Prize winning author and playwright, Thornton Wilder. This year we are sending application forms and letters to thirty-seven area public, private, and parochial high schools. We have awarded cash prizes to over 69 students for their creative writing efforts, and we hope to encourage the students from your school to take advantage of this great opportunity.
The entries for the competition may be one-act plays, TV scripts, short stories, essays, poetry, or selections from longer works. Entries must be 2500 words or less, with a limit of three per applicant. Three short poems may be considered one entry. An application form plus four typewritten copies of each entry should be mailed or delivered to the Thornton Wilder Writing Competition, c/o Friends of Hamden Library, 2901 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden CT 06518, and must be received by Wednesday, February 6, 2008. Because of the expected volume of material, we would appreciate each teacher’s assistance as a preliminary screening agent. Please help us by posting the enclosed notice on your bulletin board.
The prizes are
| First Prize, Prose: | $500 |
| Second Prize, Prose: | $300 |
| First Prize, Poetry: | $500 |
| Second Prize, Poetry: | $300 |
The awards will be presented on the evening of Wednesday, April 9, 2008, in
Thornton Wilder Hall at the Miller Library Complex. Winning entries will be
read to the audience. A reception will follow the presentations. The public
is encouraged to attend.
For those of you who missed our award ceremony last April, we enclose the names of the winning students and their schools. We look forward to your participation in 2008. GOOD LUCK!