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Dec. 18, 2009

Dylan Days calls for poems, short stories
and one act plays for 2010 contest

HIBBING, Minn. -- Over four decades, B.J. Rolfzen taught high school and community college English in Hibbing, Minnesota. Hundreds of students from all social classes and national origins drew equal and insistent inspiration in Rolfzen’s Iron Range classrooms, but perhaps many have only heard of one student: Bob Dylan. In memory of Rolfzen, who passed in 2009, and his passion for poetry and writing, the Dylan Days Creative Writing contest is calling for short stories, poems and one-act plays from students and emerging writers for 2010.
 
The competition will henceforth be known as the “B.J. Rolfzen Creative Writing Contest” and each year’s winners will be commemorated on a plaque in Bob Dylan’s hometown.

The deadline for all entries is March 15, 2010. Poems of less than 1,000 words and short fiction of 1,000 to 4,000 words will be accepted through an online entry system. One act plays will be accepted by mail only. The contest is changing this year. More entries will be considered for publication in the Dylan Days program and literary journal “Talkin’ Blues” and the categories are being renamed and realigned.

Grand prizes will be awarded to writers in poetry and short fiction categories. In poetry, a separate division for student poets will be held open to high school and undergraduate college students. First Prize in each division wins $100. Semi-finalists will also be named. All winning and semi-finalist entries will appear in the Dylan Days literary journal, “Talkin’ Blues,” providing many first-time publication credits for emerging writers and poets.

In the one act playwright competition, one winner will be named along with semi-finalists. The top work will be produced and performed on the Hibbing Community College stage during Dylan Days as the featured entertainment for our annual Literary Showcase. The grand prize winner will receive a trip to Hibbing to participate in the staging of their play during Dylan Days 2010. The play will be cast with experienced actors and directed by Michael Ricci, an award-winning Minnesota theatre director, formerly of Hibbing.

Rules and submission information for all categories may be found at www.dylandays.com (Click on “Writers”)

For more information, e-mail Dylan Days co-chair Aaron Brown at aaronbrown(at)hibbing.edu or call him at 218-969-9663.
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CONTACT: Aaron Brown
Phone:    218-262-7213 or 218-969-9663    E-mail: aaronbrown(at)hibbing.edu