Dylan Days seeks poems, stories and plays for 2009 contest

HIBBING, Minn. ─ The Dylan Days Creative Writing contest recently announced the winners of its 2009 contest. The annual contest based in Bob Dylan's hometown includes poetry, short fiction and our wildly successful new one-act play category. The deadline was March 15, 2009. Poetry and Short fiction will be accepted through an online entry system. One act plays are accepted only through the mail.

First, Second and Third prizes will be awarded to writers in poetry and short fiction categories, in both open and student divisions. First Prize wins $100, Second Prize wins $50 and Third Prize wins $25. Honorable mentions will also be named. All winning entries 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 honorable mentions. 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 $100. The play will be cast with experienced actors and directed by Michael Ricci, the award-winning director of the HCC theatre program whose acclaimed work has included "Tommy," "Hair," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "Amadeus," and many more.

Scroll down for rules and entry information on the five divisions: Open Short Fiction, Open Poetry, Student Short Fiction, Student Poetry and Open One-Act Play
Original one-act play competition
(open to all playwrights)

All submissions should be plays that have not been produced in any other theatres.  They can be of any genre except musicals, or puppet theatre. 
Scripts should be between 30 and 60 minutes in length, and contain 3-6 characters. Settings should be fairly modest, staying away from extravagant set pieces and special effects.  Content and subject matter are completely open, but should reflect what Bob Dylan came to be known for - an original voice who embraced a new direction, a unique vision with the power to move people.  All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges, and the winning entry will be given a fully mounted production on the Hibbing Community College Theatre stage.

Entrants in the playwright contest only should submit via mail only:

Dylan Days One Act Playwright Contest
C/O Mike Ricci
Hibbing Community College
1515 E. 25th St.
Hibbing, MN  55746

(All entries for fiction and poetry must be electronically submitted. No entries in fiction or poetry categories will be considered unless they are submitted following the electronic submission guidelines listed in each category's rules listed below).

For more information on the one-act competition, contact Mike Ricci at 218-262-7377.

Open Division Poetry

Open Division Short Fiction
 Student Division Poetry

Student Division Short Fiction
 In all divisions, entries need not be about Bob Dylan or use his style of writing; but they should strive for creativity, originality and literary theme.

All prizewinners are invited to take part in a literary reading and reception at Hibbing Community College during Dylan Days 2009. We will also offer a free creative writing workshop (to be announced). This year, the Literary Showcase is one of several Dylan Days activities including the Saturday night "Bob’s Birthday Bash" songwriter’s contest, a visual art contest, weekend bus tours of “Bobby Zimmerman’s Hibbing” live music, Dylan documentaries and displays, and an exciting concert event on the stage Dylan used by Dylan back when he was Bobby Zimmerman (also to be announced).

NOTICE ON RIGHTS AND PRIOR PUBLICATION: We ask that only original, unpublished works be submitted to our contest. Entering the contest grants us one time rights to publish and winning works in the Dylan Days literary journal and program. In the playwright contest, entering grants Dylan Days and its assigns to stage and perform the play once during Dylan Days, but does not include publication. After publication or performance, rights revert to the authors.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR ALL CATEGORIES: 11:59 p.m., March 15, 2009

You will be asked to provide your name, the title of piece, your phone number, address and your e-mail address along with the text of your work. Students will be asked to list the school or college they are enrolled in at the time of entry. Any special formatting must be done in HTML, otherwise entries should be submitted text only (Please indent paragraphs or separate them with one space). Be sure to select the correct division in the online submission form. You must be a registered high school or college student at the TIME OF ENTRY to be eligible for the student divisions. Previous winners are eligible to enter. We strictly enforce word counts for poetry and short fiction.

THANKS FOR ENTERING; WINNERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED. STAY TUNED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S CONTEST

See who's in the Dylan Days Creative Writing Contest Hall of Fame, including past winners and honorees since 2003.


Dylan Days is an annual event and an association dedicated to advancing the arts in Bob Dylan's hometown of Hibbing, Minnesota.  All content copyright by Aaron J. Brown.