Ralph Munn Creative Writing Contest

Top submissions will be published on Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's website, clpteensburgh blog and in this year's Ralph Munn Creative Writing Anthology, a book of creative work that is distributed to all Allegheny County libraries. Authors will also be invited to a special red carpet event on August 14th where the top winners in each writing category will be announced.

Short Prose
Writers may submit one original work of fiction or nonfiction no greater than 5,000 words in length. Short stories, personal narratives, essays, memoir and commentaries are all acceptable forms of short prose. Judges will consider originality of content and style, development of plot or themes, technical attention to grammar and mechanics and the author's command of language.

Poetry
The Ralph Munn Creative Writing Contest accepts poems of any form, including, but not limited to, free verse, sonnets, villanelles, sestinas, slam-style poetry and narrative poetry. Judges will consider exemplary clarity, economy and freshness of language, use of sound and rhythm, complementary nature of the form and content of the poem and ability to evoke an intellectual or emotional response. Poetry submissions may not exceed 2 pages in length.

Screenwriting
This year, Ralph Munn Creative Writing Contest debuts the brand new category of screenwriting! Scripts can be up to 15 pages long and must conform to standard screenwriting format. All types of submissions are welcome. Judges will consider a clarity, presentation and creativity of setting, characters and conflicts and the imaginative use of both dialogue and visuals to tell a cinematic story. For information about proper formatting standards for screenplays, please see our Screenwriter's Guide and Screenwriting Sample Page.

• Contest is open to all high school students (grade 9 – 12) in Allegheny County.
• No more than one (1) entry from each category per person will be accepted.
• All submissions must be original work.
• Each entry must include a contact sheet listing title of entry, name, address, phone number, age, grade, school and category. Entries must be saved in Microsoft WORD .doc or .docx format.
• Poetry entries must be two (2) pages or fewer.
• Short prose entries must not exceed 5,000 words and must be double-spaced.
• Screenwriting entries must not exceed 15 pages.
• Teachers may not submit work for a group or on behalf of students.
• All entries are due by May 1, 2013. All authors will be contacted by July 1, 2013.
• All entries must be submitted via email to teens@carnegielibrary.org. Include "Ralph Munn Entry" in subject line.

Any great book needs an equally great cover. This year, artists may submit one original artwork to be featured on the final Ralph Munn Creative Writing Anthology. Digital designs, collage, drawing, painting, photography, printmaking, collage, and mixed media are all eligible for consideration. Judges will consider originality of content, style, and technique. All submissions must be 6x9, and digital submissions should be 300 dpi or higher. Submissions can be given to the teen specialist at any location and must be submitted by May 1st, 2013.

Bring a piece of your work to one of the writing workshops below to get feedback from other teens and/or practice your skills through writing exercises!

Ralph Munn Creative Writing Workshops:

Tuesday, April 2 | 4 - 6 pm
CLP - Woods Run
1201 Woods Run Avenue, 15212

Tuesday, April 2 | 3:30 - 5 pm
CLP - Brookline
708 - 710 Brookline Blvd, 15226

Thursday, April 4 | 6:30 - 7:30 pm
CLP - Mt. Washington
315 Grandview Avenue, 15211

Saturday, April 6 | 2:30 - 3:30 pm
CLP - West End
47 Wabash Avenue, 15220

Monday, April 8 | 4:30 - 5:30 pm
CLP - Lawrenceville
279 Fisk Street, 15201

Tuesday, April 9 | 3:30 - 5 pm
CLP - Brookline
708 - 710 Brookline Blvd, 15226

Thursday, April 11 | 4 - 5:30 pm
CLP - Beechview
1910 Broadway Avenue, 15226

Thursday, April 11 | 4 - 6 pm
CLP - Main
4400 Forbes Avenue, 15213

Friday, April 12 | 3 - 4 pm
CLP - Hill District
2177 Centre Avenue, 15219

Saturday, April 13 | 2 - 3 pm
CLP - Sheraden
720 Sherwood Avenue, 15204

Monday, April 15 | 4 - 7 pm
CLP - Allegheny
1230 Federal Street, 15212

Monday, April 15 | 3 - 4 pm
CLP - East Liberty
130 S. Whitfield Street, 15206

Tuesday, April 16 | 3:30 - 5 pm
CLP - Brookline
708 - 710 Brookline Blvd, 15226

Tuesday, April 16 | 4:30 - 5:30 pm
CLP - Carrick
1811 Brownsville Road, 15210

Tuesday, April 16 | 5 - 7 pm
CLP - Main
4400 Forbes Ave, 15213

Tuesday, April 16 | 4 - 7 pm
CLP - South Side
2205 E. Carson Street, 15203

Wednesday, April 17 | 6:30 - 7:30 pm
CLP - Allegheny
1230 Federal Street, 15212

Wednesday, April 17 | 4:30 - 7:30 pm
CLP - East Liberty
130 S. Whitfield Street, 15206

Saturday, April 20 | 3 - 4 pm
CLP - East Liberty
130 S. Whitfield Street, 15206

Tuesday, April 23 | 3:30 - 5 pm
CLP - Brookline
708 - 710 Brookline Blvd, 15226

Tuesday, April 30 | 3:30 - 5 pm
CLP - Brookline
708 - 710 Brookline Blvd, 15226

Young Steel Poetry Slam Workshop Dates

Join us for introductory workshop sessions on slam poetry, with representatives from Young Steel, part of the Pittsburgh Poetry Collaborative. Learn about and practice slam-style poetry. All skill levels welcome, regardless of previous experience with slam.

Saturday, April 20 | 1– 2 pm
CLP - Allegheny
1230 Federal Street, 15212

Saturday, April 6 | 1 – 2 pm
CLP - Beechview
1910 Broadway Avenue, 15226

Tuesday April 2 | 4:30 – 5:30 pm
CLP - Brookline
708 – 710 Brookline Blvd, 15226

Thursday April 25th 4:30 – 5:30
CLP - Squirrel Hill
5801 Forbes Avenue, 15217

Ralph Munn was the Director of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh from 1928 until his retirement in 1964. Among his accomplishments was the creation of a young adult reading room in 1929 which grew into the Colonel James Anderson room in the 1940s. Ralph Munn was the Director of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh from 1928 until his retirement in 1964. He served as Library Director Emeritus until his death in 1975. Among his accomplishments was the creation of a young adult reading room in 1929 which grew into the Colonel James Anderson room in the 1940s. An endowment fund created in 1964 honored Munn and provides support for young adults of Allegheny County by providing opportunities for creative writing through the Library.

Enter the Ralph Munn Creative Writing Contest and have the chance to win cash and have your work published.Entries will be judged by local writers and professors.