On July 1, the Marilyn Brown Unpublished Novel Competition moved to a new and permanent home in UVU’s Department of English & Literature. The $1,000 competition award will now be given annually instead of every other year and is open to any author, not just UVU students and faculty.

Brown said she envisioned the award being able to benefit “writers of any race, locale, or religion who wish to compete.” She selected UVU because the university had the means, status, and community-oriented policies to allow the award to meet that vision.

In addition to the monetary assistance, the award also gives novelists helpful encouragement in their efforts to see their work published. “Publishing a novel is a genuine challenge these days,” said Jen Wahlquist, Associate Professor of English & Literature at UVU and administrator of the award. “Winning the Marilyn Brown award can provide a boost to new novelists, and can add strength and credibility to their resume when they approach a publisher.”

Novels submitted for the competition must be at least 200 pages in length and unpublished. The novel must also be mainstream and focused on realistic cultural experiences of the Utah Region. Science fiction or fantasy novels will not be considered.

Entries for the award must be submitted by October 1. For more information on entry format or about the award, contact Jen Wahlquist at wahlquje@uvu.edu or check the UVU Department of English & Literature Web page.