History Writing Contest

Two Categories: Historical Flash Fiction and Short Historical Nonfiction

Prizes and co-sponsorship are provided by the Gastineau Channel Historical Society (GCHS), with support from the UAS Native and Rural Student Center (NRSC).

Contest guidelines

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MONDAY, APRIL 3

Eligibility:

Submissions from any current UAS student taking courses through any of the three UAS campuses will be considered. Remote UAS students are also eligible to submit. Submissions, fiction and nonfiction, my take place within the Juneau Goldbelt (Berner’s Bay to the northwest, Windham Bay to the southeast.)

Map showing Gold Belt area (outlined in red)

Accepted Works:

Submissions should be between 350 and 750 words. There will be two categories for this contest that UAS students can submit to:

(1)  historical flash fiction and (2) short historical nonfiction. Oral narratives will be accepted in either category that students are interested in submitting to, but the same submission cannot be submitted to both categories.

This is a place-based writing contest. Topic must pertain to the area encompassing the Gastineau Channel or the greater “Gold Belt” area (Berner’s Bay to the northwest, Windham Bay to the southeast.

Prizes:

There will be one winning submission in each of the above categories (2 prizes total). Winning submissions will each receive a $250 cash prize, a subscription to the GCHS newsletter, and will have their submission published in the GCHS newsletter.

Judging:

All submissions for both categories will be judged anonymously by a panel consisting of UAS faculty members, GCHS members, and the UAS Writing Specialist. Winners will be notified by Friday, April 28, 2023.

 How to Submit:

1. Fill out the cover sheet (included on the second page of the guidelines document.
2. If you want to include any photos found in your research, also fill out this photo release form.
3. Ensure that your submission  is in Times New Roman, size 12 font, double-spaced.
4. Use your student ID number to identify your submission (do not put your name anywhere but on the cover letter to keep judging anonymous).
5. Send an electronic word.doc or .docx to the Writing Center email: uas.writingcenter@alaska.edu. In the subject line of your email, please include “GCHS Writing Submission.” We will not accept .pdf documents or physical copies.

 Resources:

A list of resources suggested by the Gastineau Channel Historical Society is available here. You are also invited to contact GCHS directly for research guidance by emailing juneauhistory@gmail.com.

We also encourage you to engage local organizations with access to diverse historical materials, such as the SEALASKA Heritage institute (Heritage@Sealaska.com) and the State Historical Library (asl.historical@alaska.gov). The UAS Native and Rural Student Center (located on the lower level of the Mourant building; uas.nrsc@alaska.edu) can also provide direction and support.

The 1906 USGS Juneau Gold Belt Report is also available here.

Questions:

Contact any of the tutors in the Writing Center by emailing us at uas.writingcenter@alaska.edu, or by giving us a call at (907) 796-6188.