DANA AWARDS

        ANNUALLY SINCE 1996

A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT:  One of our winners became a  bestseller.

Danielle Trussoni's novel, originally entitled Tunnel Rat, won our 2001 Novel Award.   She re-worked it as a memoir of her relationship with her father, a Viet Nam vet--a memoir which was  published in 2006 as FALLING THROUGH THE EARTH, and subsequently named by the New York Times Book Review as one of the 10 Best Books of  Nonfiction that year. 

For GUIDELINES and more about us, click on our LINKS ON THE LEFT BORDER OF THIS PAGE.  

                           OUR PURPOSE

THE PURPOSE OF THE DANA AWARDS IS TO OFFER MONETARY ENCOURAGMENT FOR WORK THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN RECOGNIZED. 

WE ASK THAT ALL WORK BE UNAWARDED AND UNPUBLISHED WHEN SUBMITTED TO US AND NOT PROMISED FOR AWARD OR FOR PUBLICATION, EITHER IN PRINT OR ONLINE. 

YOU MAY SIMULTANEOUSLY SUBMIT.  IF YOUR WORK IS ACCEPTED ELSEWHERE , PLEASE TELL US IMMEDIATELY.  BUT BECAUSE WE DON'T PUBLISH (WE OFFER MONETARY AWARDS ONLY), IT WILL STILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR OUR MONETARY AWARDS. 

            WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Whether fiction or poetry, it must be work that is original yet not merely sensational for the sake of sensation. It must contain clear, well-developed themes and be written in a style that exhibits love of language and mastery of craft.

If fiction, whether literary/mainstream or genre fiction, the characters must be fully drawn, not stereotypes, and must be engaged in conflicts (either internal or external) that are compelling and show forward momentum.

In poetry or fiction, if it's a universal story (love, death, loss, coming of age, moral responsiveness or failure to respond), it must be told in a fresh way.

And poetry, whether formal or free-verse, must exhibit rhythm and "music" in its use of language, syntax, line breaks, and structure. 

                   HOW WE STARTED 

As a writer who entered competitions myself, I was often mystified when I read winners' work--often I disagreed with the judges' choices.

Then I realized that as first reader for my own competition, I could steer toward reward what I deemed good work.

I also knew that by starting my own competition and casting my editor's net into the wide pool of work out there, I could see how my own writing measured up to other hopefuls'.

I've learned a heartening but frightening thing in managing the Dana Awards: that there are thousands of excellent writers out there.

Which is heartening for the sake of literature, but frightening because of the sheer numbers of good writers looking for recognition--so much competition for each one of us, and so many people who deserve notice but aren't getting it.

Writing is a profession for talented, imaginative, sensitive Gila monsters (I say this because good writers don't give up, and legend claims that when a Gila monster clamps its jaws on something it won't let go.)

Best,

Mary Elizabeth Parker

ON A PERSONAL NOTE:

 If you like, check out my own recent publications (2012):  CAVE-GIRL, a poetry collection with Finishing Line Press, also listed on Amazon.com; 

and " 'MISS OTIS REGRETS' "  in THE CHALK CIRCLE: INTERCULTURAL PRIZE-WINNING ESSAYS

 CAVE-GIRL

https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product_info.php?products_id=1459

 THE CHALK CIRCLE: INTERCULTURAL PRIZE-WINNING ESSAYS

http://www.amazon.com/The-Chalk-Circle-Intercultural-Prizewinning/dp/1936214717

FOR QUESTIONS ONLY,   E-MAIL AT THIS ADDRESS 

                              danaawards@gmail.com