Creativity is contagious.

ESME’s Annual Showcase Awards

Showcase Award Winner 2017

We are excited to announce the 2017 poetry and essay award winners. Thank you to everyone who submitted and a big thank you to Anya Ullinich for making the final selections. See her comments below.

Essay:

First place $500

The First and Last Beating by ESME Sister JOYTODAY

This essay has a powerful narrative arc anchored in intense personal moments - the terrifying minutes of being unable to find a young boy, beating him once he is found, and regretting the punishment - that encompasses a contemplation of Black motherhood in America, and considers corporal punishment as an expression of sublimated, constant fear for the safety of the Black child in this society.

Second place $350

Breaking Apart by by Sheree LaPuma

This one is a well-written "small-moment" piece: a recently divorced mom is taking her first solo vacation with her three daughters, and coping with her insecurity in the face of her new independence.

Third place: $150

Budget Backpacking by Saundra Middleton

A funny and inspiring piece, more of a "Guide to..." then an essay, about Alaskan wilderness exploration with kids for a parent on a tight budget.

Poetry Awards:

First Place $500

Notes to My Autistic Daughter by Marianne Peel Foreman

A mother describes her experience raising an autistic child. The last stanza of this poem is particularly great: the mother is attempting to communicate with her daughter using Kool-Aid mix: its poignancy is in the details.

Second Place $350

They Give Awards For That by Lee Nash

A satirical poem about a struggling single mother filling out an application for an imaginary motherhood medal. It's funny and harsh and to the point.

Third place $150

Secrets of the Skeleton by ESME Sister Goodmama369

This poem is beautiful and evocative.

2017 Submissions Now Closed

Showcase Writing Awards Update—2017

We are pleased to announce that critically acclaimed graphic novelist, and Solo Mom, Anya Ulinich will judge the 2017 ESME Showcase Writing Awards. Check out our interview with Ulinich, and read an excerpt from her book Lena Finkle’s Magic Barrel.

Guidelines

All creative work published by Showcase is considered for ESME’s Annual Showcase Awards. Once a year, a knowledgeable judge will select 20 honorable mentions and awards of first ($500), second ($350), and third ($150) place from submissions within the categories below. If there are fewer than 50 submissions in a category, we reserve the right to extend the judging period. Anyone who is not a Solo Mom or affiliated with ESME/FlowerHen, LLC is excluded from consideration. Awarded content will be republished when awards are announced.

Writing (Winter)—Poetry, Short Fiction, and Nonfiction Essay

November Announcement (submissions prior to 10/1/17)

Judge: Anya Ulinich

Please submit poetry, short stories, nonfiction essays, memoirs, and blog posts. We accept only two entries every six months. Writing must be by Solo Moms and an original (not previously published) work. Poetry guidelines include one to two poems per submission, maximum two pages per poem. Nonfiction essays, memoirs, and blog posts should not exceed 1,500 words. Short stories should be no more than 8,000 words. We do not offer payment for creative writing showcased on ESME, but you retain full rights, and all published writing is considered for recognition in ESME’s Annual Showcase Awards.

Visual Art (Spring)—All Styles

June announcement (submissions prior to 4/1/17)

Judge: TBA

ESME appreciates visual art of all styles. Images must be in .jpg or .png format and no more than 8MB in size. We accept only two entries every six months, and all work must be original (not previously published). We do not offer payment for visual art showcased on ESME, but you retain full rights, and all published visual art is considered for recognition in ESME’s Annual Showcase Awards.

Music (Summer)—All Genres

September announcement (submissions prior to 7/1/17)

Judge: TBA

ESME appreciates music of any genre by Solo Moms that is less than five minutes and in MP3 format only. We accept two submissions every six months, and all work must be original (not previously published). We do not offer payment for music showcased on ESME, but you retain full rights, and all showcased music is considered for recognition in ESME’s Annual Showcase Awards.

Short Film (Fall)—All Genres

December announcement (submissions prior to 10/1/17)

Judge: TBA

ESME appreciates short film of any genre by Solo Moms that is less than 12 minutes and in AVI, MP4, or MPEG format. Submission must be no more than 200MB in size. We accept only two submissions every six months, and all work must be original (not previously published). We do not offer payment for short films showcased on ESME, but you retain full rights, and all showcased film is considered for recognition in ESME’s Annual Showcase Awards.

Past Winners 2016

We are excited to announce the 2016 poetry and essay award winners. Thank you to everyone who submitted and a big thank-you to Goldie Goldbloom for making the final selections. (See her comments below.)

Congratulations to all the winners! Be sure to read these wonderful submissions—and submit your work for 2017.

Poetry

First place: $500

Origami Wishes by Akesha Baron

“I loved the gentle dignity, the yearning, the acceptance of what is, without judgment.”

Second place: $350

Jennifer Marie by Victoria Elizabeth Ruwi

“An elegy to all the kinds of loss.”

Third place: $150

How to Make Pie by Deborah Leipziger

“I was reminded of all the things I wished I’d asked my mother before she died.”

Essay

First place: $500

Masturbation Meditation by Susan Koons

“A surprising and delightful vision of being single.”

Second place: $350

Worries by Linda Ingwersen

“I found this to be a realistic examination of some of the struggles post-divorce.”

Third place: $150

Right of Passage by Nancy Ryan

“I loved this essay for curious reasons having to do with my own failing memory and aging body.”

CODE OF ETHICS AND CONTEST PROCEDURES

Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) Contest Code of Ethics

CLMP’s community of independent literary publishers believe that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) provide clear and specific contest guidelines—defining conflict of interest for all parties involved; and 3) make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results but that each model can be run ethically. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage.

ESME Creative Writing Award Contest Selection Process

First round of judging: blind read by editors. Finalists (approximately 10 poems, 10 pieces of fiction, and 10 nonfiction essays/memoirs) will then be forwarded to the contest judges for the second round of judging.

Second round of judging: blind read by contest judges. Judges change on a yearly basis.

Conflicts of interest: Similar to our regular editorial policy, staff and administrators currently affiliated with FlowerHen, LLC and ESME.com are ineligible for consideration or publication. Additionally, anyone affiliated with a judge is ineligible to enter in that category. Questions about the contest? Please contact us.