The School of Languages, Cultures, and Race is hosting its fourth annual Creative Writing Contest and accepting submissions until April 5.

This year’s topic is “El viaje en 100 palabras,” or “The journey in 100 words.” Contestants must write about the concept of self-discovery in the form of a short story. Submissions cannot exceed 100 words.

SCLR will announce the contest winners April 12 and honor them at the SLCR Award Ceremony, which is from 4-6 p.m. April 15 at the Compton Union Building Senior Ballroom.

“We’re always trying to encourage the creative part of language which is why we choose these ideas that are abstract enough to where anyone can participate,” said Joseba Pérez Guerrero, organizer and SLCR instructor.

Pérez Guerrero said SCLR faculty chooses the topics for the contest, which they then vote on.

“Last year the theme was dreams or los sueños,” Pérez Guerrero said. “We want to keep this idea of imagination and creativity even if the topic changes. We want you to demonstrate your literary abilities.”

Students must be taking at least one Spanish course at WSU to enter.

Submissions are organized into basic, intermediate and advanced categories. A panel of judges with zero information about the authors will evaluate the short stories, Pérez Guerrero said. 

Students who have taken or are taking Spanish 101, 102, 110, 203, 204 or 208 enter the contest under the elementary category. Students who have taken or are taking Spanish 306, 307, 308, 350 or 365 enter under the intermediate category. Students who have taken or are taking Spanish 408 or 452 enter under the advanced category.

WSU alum Samantha Radcliffe was a contestant in last year’s contest and won first place.

“I’ve always dabbled in writing but never submitted anything until the creative writing contest,” Radcliffe said. “I got second place the first time I submitted my story and won first this past year.”

Radcliffe said she initially found out about SCLR’s creative writing contest as a columnist for The Daily Evergreen.

She said the contest was a great way to express creativity and ideas and explore different forms of writing.

“Last year, my story was about my sister overcoming her fear of heights,” Radcliffe said. “I’m a very family-oriented person so I always like to bring family elements into my writing.”

Winners will receive the following recognitions and awards:

• The Daily Evergreen will publish bilingually the winning short story in each category.
• First-place winners in each category will receive a book, SLCR T-shirt and representative gift of a Hispanic country and/or culture.
• Second- and third-place winners will receive a diploma and SLCR memorabilia.
• SCLR will honor all three winners in each category at the SLCR Award Ceremony.

If any student is interested in entering the contest, they can contact Pérez Guerrero at [email protected].