The Wasatch Iron Pen Writing Competition can provide writers with endless opportunities in the field of the literary pen. The SLCC Community Writing Center will host the competition at the Utah Arts Festival beginning on Friday, June 21, 2013.
The 24-hour contest is open to all ages and levels of writing in the categories of fiction, non-fiction or poetry. For those who want to take the Ultra Iron Pen Challenge, they can take on all three categories.
“I find that this is a great jump start for writers to get their foot in the door. If something wins a prize like this – to put it on a resume when you’re seeking publication – is really helpful,” said SLCC Community Writing Center Director Andrea Malouf.
Writers have the opportunity to share their voices and be creative through their pieces. The writers will be given a visual prompt at 6 p.m. on Friday, and then have the next 24 hours to come up with a piece relating to that prompt.
In past competitions, some prompts included a Utah license plate, a graffiti wall, an old newspaper photograph and a salt shaker. Writers are judged based on how they incorporate the prompt in their writings, creativity and quality of their submissions.
“At the Community Writing Center, we believe everyone can write and that there’s no such thing as a good or bad writer. There is such a thing as good or bad writing,” said Malouf.
According to Malouf, people of all different ages and backgrounds can put a pen to paper and develop something. There are various ways to interpret a piece of writing. Judges at the competition will have different expectations of contestants’ pieces depending on their skill levels.
“I think what makes someone produce good writing is curiosity, tenacity and confidence,” said Malouf.
