Barrett Creative Writing Contest Guidelines

We accept works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama from currently enrolled Henry Ford College students.

Deadline : Friday, February 28th, 2025

Guidelines

Submissions should be sent to michave@hfcc.edu as an electronic attachment, preferably as a Microsoft Word attachment. We also strongly recommend that students send from their HFC HawkMail address to ensure that we receive their submissions. You may submit a manuscript consisting of one to four pieces of writing, which many vary in genre.

All attached submissions should be accompanied by a cover letter inside the email with the following information:

  • Name
  • HFC student ID number
  • Titles of the works submitted
  • Major and number of years attending HFC
  • Email Address, Phone Number, and Current Address
  • Write a brief paragraph of biographical information . Tell us about yourself. For example, tell us about what you do when you are not at school, where you work, your family, past publications. Also write a few sentences about what inspired your piece of writing.
  • Please include the Release Form for Creative Writing. This can be found at the bottom of these submission guidelines.


Fiction, Non-fiction, and Drama submissions should be relatively free of grammatical errors. Ideally, the submissions should not exceed 5 pages in length. Longer submissions may be considered, but only exceptional pieces of length will be published. (Excerpts from novel or novellas are welcome). Submissions should be double –spaced, typed, and the page numbers should be clearly marked. Identifying information (name, email, address, etc.) should not be included on the submission.

Poetry submissions should be single-spaced, typed, and the title should be clearly marked for each poem. Identifying information (name, email, address, etc.) should not be included on the submission. The highest-placing poetry manuscript in the Barrett Contest will also be awarded the Colter Poetry Prize.

Winners will be notified by email by Friday, April 4th, 2025, and they will be honored at the Barrett Creative Writing Ceremony from 12:40 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 17th, 2025.

General inquiries about submission guidelines can be sent to michave@hfcc.edu.

Creative Writing Release Statement

Please include this statement in your email cover letter. You may cut and paste it into the email or type it into the email cover letter.

I, (type your name), on this day (date) give permission that the creative work submitted by me can be published by Henry Ford College. I understand that my work will be viewed and read by the general public and used by Henry Ford College for promotional purposes. I also understand that my work may be used as a classroom example.