YORK, Pa. — Writers of fiction, poetry, and drama interested in having their work published or performed should plan to enter the Penn State York Literary Competition sponsored by the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center and “Any Other Word,” the campus’ online literary magazine. The competition is open to Penn State York students. 

Submissions for the literary contest and magazine are being accepted through Friday, March 2, 2019. Winners will receive cash prizes and have their works published in the ninth edition of “Any Other Word.” Dramatic work also will be considered for performance on the Pullo Center stage.

Three prizes will be offered in each category: fiction, poetry and drama. First prize is $75, second is $50, and third place is $25. In the fiction category, a maximum of 20 pages will be accepted; in poetry, between one and five poems can be submitted; and in drama, a maximum of 20 pages will be accepted. Only top-quality works will be published, and some prizes may not be awarded.

In previous years, the Pullo Center, along with the theater department, sponsored a play-writing contest. Last year it was decided to merge that contest with a new one, and offer the opportunity for work to be published and performed. Valerie Carrington, Yanelis Melendez, and Thomas Shaffer, who were all Penn State York students majoring in English, evaluated works for the 2018 competition, along with guidance from Noel Sloboda, associate professor of English and adviser to “Any Other Word,” and Stuart Stelly, associate teaching professor in English and adviser to the Penn Players, the student theater group.

"My experience with “Any Other Word” was enjoyable, and probably one of the better experiences of my college years,” said Shaffer, one of the editors of edition eight and a recent Penn State York graduate. “Working together with Dr. Sloboda and a handful of other students to select the winners for the competition was not only enjoyable, but a learning experience. Teamwork and compromise was a heavy part of working on the editorial team, as there are varying opinions on the majority of the work.”

Shaffer also noted that the students who submitted writing had their work critiqued and reviewed, while also allowing them to have their voice heard by the community.

“It was a wonderful experience to be involved with the community on this project, and I am honored to be a part of it,” Shaffer said.

Selected works from the literary contest appear in the eighth edition of  “Any Other Word,” which is available online. The cover design features an acrylic painting by Isabella Ridolfi.

Submissions are now being accepted for the ninth edition of “Any Other Word,” and the literary competition. All submissions, along with any questions, should be addressed to Sloboda at njs16@psu.edu.

“Any Other Word” is a creative outlet for members of the Penn State York community (students, staff and faculty) and was created to showcase literary talents and unite artistic minds. Work on the first issue began in the fall of 2006. Work published in “Any Other Word” is selected by a board of directors who read all entries submitted and make selections. All authors retain full copyrights on their works. The student adviser has the final say on what is published. Work on the first issue began in the fall of 2006. The publication takes its name from the quote by William Shakespeare, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.”