The Norman Mailer College Writing Award

Name: Norman Mailer College Writing Award

Award Amount: College division winners receive $10,000 plus a summer fellowship at the Norman Mailer Writers Colony.

Information and Eligibility:
The Norman Mailer College Writing Award, administered in partnership with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and the Norman Mailer Center and Writers Colony, honors outstanding undergraduate writing in the genres of fiction, creative nonfiction or poetry. The award reflects the literary legacy of Norman Mailer and aims to support emerging writers who show originality, strong voice, and literary promise. Applicants must be full-time undergraduate students enrolled in U.S. or international colleges/four-year institutions.
Eligibility criteria:

• Academic Level: Full-time undergraduate student at a four-year college or university.
• Genre / Submission: Applicants submit original work in fiction, poetry or creative nonfiction within prescribed page limits (e.g., up to 15 single-spaced pages for college entries).
• Originality & Merit: Writing must reflect high literary quality, strong voice, insight and inventive style aligned with Mailer’s vision of engaged writers.

Application Requirements:

• Completed online application form via NCTE’s student-awards portal.
• Submission of original writing sample (fiction, poetry or creative nonfiction) up to the required page limit.
• Résumé or statement outlining applicant’s background, writing experience or aspirations.
• Academic transcript verifying undergraduate enrollment and full-time status.

Selection Criteria:

• Literary excellence—originality of idea, strength of voice, structural skill and emotional or intellectual effect.
• Writing showing promise for future literary achievement and thoughtful engagement with subject matter.
• Completeness and clarity of submission materials—writing sample, résumé, transcript and adherence to contest rules.

Additional Details:

• The award winner is celebrated at a gala event hosted by the Norman Mailer organization and invited to a summer fellowship at the Writers Colony. Past college winners have included students chosen from hundreds of applicants nationwide.
• Finalists receive recognition and may participate in writing events sponsored by NCTE or the Norman Mailer Center.

Deadline:

• April

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