Every year, hundreds of imprisoned writers from around the country submit poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and dramatic works to PEN America’s Prison Writing Contest, one of the few outlets of free expression for the country’s incarcerated population. Manuscripts come to the Prison Writing Program in a variety of forms: Some are handwritten, some are typed, some are written in the margins of legal documents. Prizes of $250, $150, $100, and $25 are awarded for first, second, third place, and honorable mention, respectively, in each of the following categories:
POETRY
First Place
Judith Clark, “Write a Poem That Makes No Sense”
Second Place
Delores Hornick, “You Wanted To Be My Protector”
Third Place
John Rich, Burger and Fries
Honorable Mentions
Anthony Ross, “Only a Few Will Really Understand”
James Knight-Calle, “An Industrial Love Song”
Chet Shephard, Jr., “Prison”
Emerson Stitt, “Chlorine Suicide”
FICTION
First Place (tie)
Anthony Ross, “Walkers Requiem“
Michael Hunter, “Sam”
Second Place
Jeff Taylor, “Stickmen”
Third Place
Joseph E. Sissler, “I See Your Work”
Honorable Mentions
Steve A. Champion, “Escort: Excerpts From a Prison Cell“
David-Michael Harding, “The Cats of Savone”
Travis Simpkins, “Independence Day”
Paul St. John, “Dear Betty Boop #578432”
MEMOIR
Award Winner
Kim McNeir, “Drink Plenty of Water”
Honorable Mentions
Mary Ann Cook, “Imprints of the Heart”
Michael Sizemore, “Bulldog and Poodle”
ESSAY
First Place
Paul Mulryan, “Eleven Days Under Siege”
Second Place (tie)
Barry Corgill, “Tricky Dick and the Fast Martini”
Charles P. Norman, “A Day in the Life”
Third Place
Lowell Anspaugh, “A Stacked Deck”
Honorable Mentions
Larry Bratt, “Redemption Via Incarceration”
Emil Dill, “Insider’s View”
Jon Marc Taylor, “What Resorts?”
DRAMA
First Place
Edward Bell, “Brother Cool Blue”
Second Place
Steven Hartford, “Hart and Sole”
Third Place
Bruce Fleming, “Lockdowns”
Honorable Mentions
Derrick Corley, “The Kill”
Steven Dodrill, “Caged”
Charles P. Norman, “Tattoo Blues”
David Rexford, “Bobo”
J.E. Stanwick, “At No Extra Charge”
David Wood, “Thunder”