Writing Contest Guidelines

The Frances G. Barrett Memorial Creative Writing Contest

Deadline: February 27, 2026

The Frances G. Barrett Memorial Creative Writing Contest is held annually at Henry Ford College to honor the memory of the English Department's first department chairperson. The contest promotes and celebrates the creative writing of students at Henry Ford College. The top five winners are recognized at an annual public reading of each winning entry. The event is hosted by the English Department's Barrett Committee. Winners receive the Frances G. Barrett Memorial Scholarship and publication in the next issue of The Mirror News's annual student magazine, Looking Glass.

The Barrett Creative Writing Contest is open to works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, experimental prose, and drama from currently enrolled Henry Ford College students.

Barrett Contest 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 Larry Colter Poetry Prize.

Winners will be notified by email by Friday, April 3rd, 2026, and they will be honored at the Barrett Creative Writing Ceremony from 12:40 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 16th, 2026.

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.


Geraldine Grunow Prize for Excellence in Community-Engaged Writing

Deadline: February 27, 2026

The Geraldine Grunow Prize for Excellence in Community-Engaged Writing is an annual writer’s contest that honors the legacy of retired English faculty member Geraldine Grunow, a dedicated teacher and community activist whose life work has focused on universal human rights and civic engagement. This contest promotes and celebrates the community-engaged academic writing of students at Henry Ford College. The winner of the Grunow Prize will receive a scholarship sponsored by The Mirror News and publication in the next issue of the annual student magazine, Looking Glass.

Grunow Writer's Prize Guidelines:

We invite submissions of community-engaged academic writing (writing completed for a class or directed study) from currently enrolled HFC students. We are especially interested in writing that addresses community issues, writing that includes community members as part of a research methodology, and/or writing that demonstrates a commitment to social justice.

All submissions should be academic in nature (completed for course credit), formatted according to course or disciplinary style and citation guidelines, and relatively free of grammatical errors. Submissions should be typed, double–spaced, and page numbers should be clearly marked. To support a fair review process, identifying information (name, email, address, etc.) should not be included on the submission itself.

Submissions should be sent to lookingglass@hfcc.edu as an electronic attachment, preferably Microsoft Word. We also strongly recommend that students use their HFC HawkMail email address to ensure that we receive their submissions. Students are highly encouraged to visit the Writing Center prior to submission.

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 work submitted
  • Major and number of years attending HFC
  • Email Address, Phone Number, and Current Address
  • 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 are from, how you spend your time, any past publications, your personal and professional goals). Please also include a few sentences about what inspired the subject matter of the writing you are submitting!
  • Please include the Grunow Writer's Contest Release Form. This can be found at the bottom of these submission guidelines.

Grunow Writer's Prize 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.

Notification: The winner of the Grunow Writer's Prize will be notified by email by April 3rd, and they will be honored at the Barrett Creative Writing Ceremony from 12:40 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. on April 16th in the Rosenau Rooms, ASCC building “L.”

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