Faulkner writing contest draws more than 250 entries worldwide

William Faulkner Literary Competition 2020 is in process with winners to be announced on Sept. 25, fittingly on the birthday of William Faulkner. In New Albany’s RiverFest , the Literary events are a big part of  Faulkner’s birthplace  celebration.

Many of the 2020 literary events will be virtual.  Entries in the competition include 51 short stories, 84 one-act plays, 39 poems and 62 novels. The competition has a very international flavor with entries from all over the world. The student competition is open to Mississippi students only and that deadline is not until  Aug. 31.  “High school students have the opportunity to win money and establish writing credibility in this contest.  Parents and teachers, please encourage students to enter.  It is free to enter the student competition,” said Jill Smith, Director of Union County Heritage Museum. Go to www.williamfaulknerliterarycompetition.com  for more information.

A staged reading of the last year’s winning one-act play, Untethered by Judy Klass of Nashville will be done by the Tallahatchie River Players Sept. 25,  7 p.m. from the Magnolia Civic Center, said Civic Center Director Emily Draffen who is coordinating this.

Other local events related to the Literary Festival include an upcoming Memoir Writing class that will be taught virtually by Dr. Elizabeth Crews. Call the museum at 662-538-0014 if you are interested in participating.

Robert Hitt Neil, Mississippi writer and storyteller is the awards luncheon guest speaker and is  a native of Leland, Miss.   His virtual presentation will be available online. His works has received many awards including nominations for a Pulitzer Prize, the Ernie Pyle Awards a Earnest Hemmingway Award, Gentleman of the year and Governor’s Artist of the Year.  Books by Neil include The Flaming Turkey, Going Home, How to Lose Your Farm in Ten Easy Lessons,  Don’t Fish under the Dingleberry,  The Magnolia Club and Outdoor Tables and Tales. 

A virtual book talk from the William Faulkner Library at the Union County Heritage Museum will feature awards-winning writer Bill Rose as he talks about his research and plans to publish a book  on former New Albany Coach Ben Jones, one of the area’s winningest coaches.  This will be Aug. 20, 2 p.m. Facebook live with related interviews to follow.

Dr. Kate Stewart from the University of Arkansas at Monticello will give a book talk at the Faulkner Library on the book Go Down Moses on Sept. 17, noon.  Her presentation will be a Facebook live event.

The gifted class at New Albany Elementary under the leadership of Ninabeth Capaning and Glen Reeder will participate in a poetry writing workshop.   This year the students will read original poems as part of the virtual celebration of New Albany’s literary legacy.

The William Faulkner Literary Competition began in 1997, the 100^th anniversary of the birth of Faulkner.  Hundreds of writers from Australia, Ireland, Israel, Iran, Jordan, New Zealand, Canada and cities all over the United States have participated.  Because of COVID, all activities will be virtual.