Identity in America
2020 Literary competition
This summer, the editors of The Stirling Spoon are hosting our first annual literary competition, centered around the theme of “Identity in America.” In light of international protests calling for social change, the vibrant Black Lives Matter movement, and Pride Month, we hope to recognize and amplify diverse voices across the United States. The subject of the submissions may range from race and gender to geographic and social identity, as long as the story or poem loosely connects to our central theme.
Here are a few questions to consider: What is your origin story? How have you struggled with your identity, especially in the context of our current America? How do you celebrate your identity? Please do not feel constrained by these questions; we only hope to hear you and your character’s genuine experiences in a way that makes you feel comfortable.
The two winners will receive a prize of $150 each and publication in The Stirling Spoon. We reserve the right to withhold the prizes if there are no such pieces that warrant publication in The Stirling Spoon. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, September 6.
Judging
Prose and poetry submissions will be judged in separate categories. The winner(s) of our 2020 Literary Competition: “Identity in America” will be selected by Matthew Baker and Richard Blanco.
Matthew Baker is the author of Why Visit America, out this August from Henry Holt. His stories have appeared in publications such as New York Times Magazine, The Paris Review, American Short Fiction, One Story, Electric Literature, and Conjunctions, and in anthologies including Best Of The Net. Born in the Great Lakes region of the United States, he currently lives in New York City.
Selected by Barack Obama as the fifth Presidential Inaugural Poet in US history, Richard Blanco is the award-winning author of two memoirs and four poetry collections. His body of work and advocacy are characterized by his personal negotiation of cultural identity and universal themes of place and belonging. He currently serves as the first-ever Education Ambassador for the Academy of American Poets and is a member of the Obama foundation’s advisory council.
Feedback and donations
We will be offering line-by-line, personalized feedback to those who donate $25 or more to one of the following organizations: the Loveland Therapy Fund, the Equal Justice Initiative, or the Audre Lorde Project. If you submit a prose piece or poem to our “Identity in America” Literary Competition, upload a screenshot of your receipt in the allotted space, and we will email you your piece with in-depth, constructive feedback.