Loading competition...
The Southern Literary Festival Competition is a free, in-person regional contest for undergraduate students from Southern U.S. member institutions, recognizing excellence in creative writing across multiple genres. Organized by the Southern Literary Festival Association with leadership from the University of North Alabama, winners earn awards, anthology publication, and presentation opportunities at the annual festival.
The Southern Literary Festival Competition is an annual regional creative writing contest organized by the Southern Literary Festival Association, a consortium of Southern colleges and universities led by the University of North Alabama. It honors outstanding creative writing by undergraduate students enrolled at member institutions in the Southern United States, promoting excellence in multiple genres such as poetry, fiction, one-act play, formal essay, creative nonfiction, and literary magazines and e-zines. Winners receive awards, publication in an anthology, and opportunities to present at the annual in-person festival, fostering community and development among emerging Southern writers.
Preparation time varies widely depending on the participant, typically weeks to months for writing and revision. The submission period occurs in the fall, followed by the three-day in-person festival in spring. Festival participation includes readings and events lasting about 3 days.
Submissions are evaluated anonymously by a review committee typically composed of established writers, faculty, and festival organizers. Judging criteria include creativity, originality, writing quality, style, voice, thematic depth, structure, and overall literary merit. Judges assess adherence to submission guidelines and the potential impact of the work. The process results in ranking entries per category with first, second, and third place winners selected. Winning entries are published in the festival anthology and authors invited to present their work at the festival.
Sponsored Content
Get expert guidance, practice materials, and mentorship to excel in your competitions.
Competition Partner
Partner with ScholarComp to support student success and reach thousands of motivated competitors.
Analytics will be displayed here soon.
Track participation, success rates, and trends.
Explore ScholarComp
Browse thousands of competitions, scholarships, and opportunities tailored to your interests.
Open
Regional