The Tennessee Clean Water Network sponsors an annual essay contest with prizes for essays about Tennessee water. The prizes are awarded in honor of the late Wilma Dykeman, the 2007 recipient of the Bill Russell River Hero Award. Wilma Dykeman’s legacy includes being the writer of 16 books, including The French Broad, being named Tennessee Conservation Writer of the Year, holding the honorary title of Tennessee State Historian, and leaving a love of nature and environmental stewardship and education for future generations.

Guidelines

1. All submissions must be received by July 1, 2008.

2. Contests are open to anyone with a Tennessee relationship (resident, visitor, etc.). Members of the TCWN staff and board of directors, their immediate families, and contest committee may not submit entries. Previous first prizewinners may not enter the contest for one year.

3. Two prizes will be awarded: One $500 award for writers age 18 or over and one $200 award for writers under age 18.

4. Winners will be announced in early September, and they will be honored at the TCWN Bill Russell River Hero Award ceremony in the fall. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope to receive a list of winners or check out the TCWN website at tcwn.org.

5. Include a cover sheet with entry, including your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (optional) on cover sheets only. Also indicate age as 17 or younger, or 18 or above. A cover sheet must accompany each entry. Do not put name or other identifying information on the entry itself. Entries will be coded, by number, for judging by members of the TCWN Board of Directors and representatives of the Dykeman family. No e-mail submissions. No previously published works.

6. Manuscripts will not be returned, so keep copies.

7. Nonfiction. Subject of the essay must be Tennessee waters or general water matters (like federal legislation) impacting Tennessee.

8. Entries should be 2,500 words or less.

9. Send entries to:

Wilma Dykeman Prize
Tennessee Clean Water Network
P.O. Box 1521
Knoxville, TN 37902

10. By submitting to the contest, in consideration for any and all compensation or prizes, winning writer grants TCWN first publication rights. Writer retains all other rights. Winners may be published in TCWN’s Current issue and/or on-line at tcwn.org.

11. No restrictions as to number of submissions.

12. No charge for submissions.

13. Judging criteria: (1) excellence in writing, (2) accuracy and knowledge of the subject, (3) communicating a love of Tennessee waters

Contact Renée Hoyos for more information - 865.522.7007 x 100