Inspired by the work of two local writers who served on the editorial board of Philadelphia Stories, the goal of these named national prizes is to introduce the great culture of Philadelphia to writers throughout the country. The Marguerite McGlinn Prize for Fiction is an annual national short fiction contest with a 2,000 prize. The Sandy Crimmins National Prize for Poetry offers a $1,000 cash award. Both prizes are celebrated at an award reception and dinner.
Marguerite McGlinn Prize for Fiction
This is an annual national short fiction contest that features a first place $2,000 cash award and invitation to an awards dinner on the campus of Rosemont College; a second place cash prize of $500; and third place cash prize of $250. The winner stories will be published in the print issue of Fall of Philadelphia Stories. The Marguerite McGlinn Prize for Fiction is made possible by the generous support of the McGlinn and Hansma families.
About Marguerite McGlinn
Marguerite McGlinn was the essay editor of Philadelphia Stories from 2004-2008. Her travel stories appeared in the New York Times, the Sun-Sentinel, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Los Angeles Times. She edited The Trivium: The LiberalArts of Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric (Paul Dry Books, 2002). Three of her short stories won places in “Writing Aloud,” a program of dramatic readings that matches contemporary fiction with professional actors. She was an adjunct instructor at Saint Joseph University in Philadelphia, and her story “The Sphinx” appeared in the Fall 2007 issue of Philadelphia Stories and the second volume of the Best of Philadelphia Stories (2009). Her mystery novel, Murder in the Yeats Castle, was published posthumously (TWM Books, 2014).
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Sandy Crimmins National Prize for Poetry
This is an annual national poetry prize that features a first place of $1,000 cash award and invitation to the awards event in Philadelphia. Three runners up will receive $100 cash awards for individual poem. The winning and running up poems are published in the spring issue.
The winning poet and runners up are invited to submit chapbooks to be considered for publication by PS Books.
About Sandy Crimmins
Sandy Crimmins’ poem “Spring” appeared in the first issue of Philadelphia Stories in 2004 and she performed at our launch party. She served on the Philadelphia Stories board from 2005 to 2007. In the ten years since we debuted, Sandy’s voice and vision have fundamentally shaped Philadelphia Stories. Sandy was a poet who performed with musicians, dancers, and fire-eaters, and one of her proudest accomplishments was celebrating the work of her vibrant poetry community.
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