Memory
Prompt
- Tell us a story you heard as a child.
- What is a “false memory”?
- In discussing the historical impact of the Vietnam War, Viet Thanh Nguyen writes, Vietnamese people, how do you separate what is unique to you and your own personal trauma from war, colonization, the division and reunification of the country? Explore the boundary between public and private memory.
Categories & Requirements
Answer the prompt with one of the following forms of writing.
Fiction
(including short story, science fiction, fantasy, and flash fiction)
Description
A fictional narrative that is written in prose.
Word Limit
500 – 2500 words.
Literary Criticism
Description
Writing that evaluates literary works to deepen understanding, assess quality, and explore themes, style, and context.
Word Limit
500 – 2500 words. Use either MLA or APA citation style.
Poetry
Description
Writing in verse, which may include but is not limited to formal poetry, free verse, prose poetry, and song lyrics.
Word Limit
3 – 50 lines. Prose poetry should not exceed 350 words.
Personal Memoir
Description
A non-fiction work based on opinion, experience, and/or emotion that explores a topic or event of importance to the author.
Word Limit
500 – 2500 words.
Formatting
Your writing should be 12-point typed (Times New Roman), double-spaced (except for poetry), and submitted as a Microsoft Word or PDF file.
Eligibility
We accept submissions from students in grades 7 and above.
Declaration
Work that is submitted to the Nova Awards must be original work created by the participant and cannot be previously published. By submitting your work to the Nova Awards, you understand and accept that the winners’ works may be included in Ars Literica magazine.
Timeline
Submission Period: February 15th – April 1st, 11:59 pm (Eastern Time).
Awards Announced: Late April.
Awards
Grand Prize
The winner of the Grand Prize will receive a 500-RMB scholarship.
First Prize
Second Prize
Third Prize
Honorable Mentions
Judges
Adam
Master’s in Philosophy, Columbia University; Editor at Dow Jones Barron’s Magazine.
Elleen
Princeton University, majoring in Classics, with a focus on Classical Languages, Literature, and Linguistics.
Submission
Submission will open on February 15th.