CONTEST: The Night
postmark deadline January 10, 2011

Co-sponsored by The Salt Institute for Documentary Studies
Judged by Susan Orlean

Creative Nonfiction and The Salt Institute are seeking essays about “The Night”: It was a dark and stormy night; Strangers in the Night; the night sky; Friday Night Lights; things that go bump in the night; Take Back the Night; night owls; The Night Before Christmas; The Night Watch; The Night Kitchen; The Armies of the Night; The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down; prom night; date night; Good Night, Nurse!

Essays must be vivid and dramatic; they should combine a strong and compelling narrative with a significant element of research or information, and reach for some universal or deeper meaning in personal experiences. We’re looking for well-written prose, rich with detail and a distinctive voice.

Essays will be judged by Susan Orlean, and Best Essay will be awarded $5,000 plus publication in the Summer 2011 issue of Creative Nonfiction. One runner-up will receive $2,500 plus publication online. For accepted applicants, contest awards can also be used directly toward Salt tuition.

Guidelines: Essays must be unpublished, 4,000 words maximum, postmarked by January 10, 2011, and clearly marked “The Night” on both the essay and the outside of the envelope. Author’s name and contact information should appear in a cover letter, but not the manuscript itself. There is a $20 reading fee (or send a reading fee of $25 to include a 4-issue CNF subscription–U.S. submitters only); multiple entries are welcome ($20/essay) as are entries from outside the U.S. (though due to shipping costs, the subscription deal is not valid). Please send manuscript, accompanied by a cover letter with complete contact information including the title of the essay, SASE and payment to:

Creative Nonfiction
Attn: The Night
5501 Walnut Street, Suite 202
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Visit the website:

http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/submittocnf.htm