APSU launches Tennessee’s Emerging Creative Writers Contest for high school students

By: Dr. Andrea Spofford February 3, 2025

Students listen and take notes during a reading by author Joe Milan Jr. hosted at Austin Peay State University. | Photo by Sean McCully

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University’s Creative Writing program, with support from the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, has launched the inaugural Tennessee’s Emerging Creative Writers Contest to encourage writers in high schools across the state and support aspiring literary voices.  

The contest is accepting submissions through March 2 and will recognize writers from all high school grade levels. Nine winners will be selected from among freshmen, sophomores, and juniors—one from each grade level in poetry, fiction, and personal essay categories. Five senior finalists will be chosen, with two receiving $1,500 scholarships to attend Austin Peay State University. 

Winning students will be celebrated during the inaugural Zone 3 Writers Festival at 10 a.m. on April 13, 2025, in the Art + Design Building’s Heydel Hall. 

“I'm excited for the competition to be a way to foster the creative voices of Tennessee students and celebrate them at APSU,” said Dr. Raymond Deeren, co-coordinator of the Creative Writing program. “For the festival, I am eager to see the student interns work with each other, the university, and local businesses to create a festival that showcases them and their broader literary community.” 

Submission deadline for all grades (9th – 12th):  March 2, 2025 

Submission links: https://ceca.submittable.com/submit/313478/tennessees-emerging-creative-writers-contest