Below are the guidelines for the Fall 2021 Contest. The theme this year is “SOUND, FOOD, SOUL.” Submit your poems, short stories, photos, or artworks!

Fall 2021 Creative Arts Contest Rules and Guidelines
This is a free contest and is open to all Missouri S&T students. This year’s theme is “SOUND,
FOOD, SOUL.” All submissions must adhere to at least one aspect of the theme. Interested
participants can start submitting by November 12, 2021 to swinds@mst.edu.
Below are the specific guidelines per category:

POETRY WRITING

1. It is highly recommended (but not required) to submit in PDF in order to avoid
   distortions/sudden changes in your desired “format” for your poem.
2. Poems must be relevant to the theme.
3. Poems can be written in any poetic style.
4. Poems in their entirety must be an original work by the person entering the contest.
   a. Any poem containing a plagiarized portion will be disqualified.
5. Only FOUR poems per student is allowed.
6. All poems must use English as a medium. Translations into English of poems originally
   in another language are also acceptable.
7. There will be no limit in stanzas and lines.
8. Be sure to format your poems the way you want it to appear (i.e. make the stanzas and
   indentions obvious).
9. Poems containing inappropriate language or content will be disqualified.
10. Optional but recommended, kindly include a title.
11. The poems will be assessed based on the following: Content (20%), Creativity (20%),
    Relevance to the Theme (20%), Language Use (20%), Tone and Rhythm (20%).
12. The poems will be solely judged by the Southwinds staff. Their decision will be final and
    irrevocable.

SHORT STORY WRITING

1. It is highly recommended (but not required) to submit in PDF in order to avoid
   distortions/sudden changes in your desired “format” for your short story.
2. Short stories must be relevant to the theme.
3. Short stories can be written in any style.
4. Short stories in their entirety must be an original work by the person entering the contest.
   a. Any short story containing a plagiarized portion will be disqualified.
5. Only FOUR stories per student is allowed.
6. All short stories must use English as a medium.
7. Short stories should NOT EXCEED 1500 words (excluding title)
8. Be sure to format your story the way you want it to appear.
9. Adding graphics/photos is allowed as long as those are also your original work.
10. Short stories containing inappropriate language or content will be disqualified.
11. Optional but recommended, kindly include a title.
12. The short stories will be assessed based on the following: Content (20%), Creativity
    (20%), Relevance to the Theme (20%), Language Use (20%), Organization (20%).
13. The short stories will be solely judged by the Southwinds staff. Their decision will be
    final and irrevocable.

PHOTO CONTEST

1. It is highly recommended (but not required) to submit in JPEG or PNG.
2. Photos must be original and relevant to the theme.
3. Photos can be raw or post-processed and can be taken using ANY camera.
4. If a photo contains a person as the main subject (someone who is not a bystander or was
   included because he/she is behind the main focus), be sure that the person allowed you to
   submit the photo.
5. A photo in its entirety must be originally taken by the person entering the contest.
   a. Any poem containing a plagiarized portion will be disqualified. (Avoid
   incorporating other photos to your submission)
6. Only TEN photos per student is allowed.
7. There will be no limit to the file size, resolution, number of filters, etc.
8. Poems containing inappropriate content will be disqualified.
9. Optional but recommended, kindly include a caption/description.
10. The photos will be assessed based on the following: Composition/Elements (20%),
    Creativity (20%), Relevance to the Theme (20%), Technical Quality (20%), Overall
    Quality (20%).
11. The photos will be solely judged by the Southwinds staff. Their decision will be final and
    irrevocable.

ARTWORK CONTEST

1. It is highly recommended (but not required) to submit in JPEG or PNG.
2. Artwork must be original and relevant to the theme.
3. Artwork can be scanned/photographed painting/drawing, or it can be a digital artwork. .
4. If an artwork photo contains a person as the main subject (someone who is not a
   bystander or was included because he/she is behind the main focus), be sure that the
   person allowed you to submit the photo.
5. An artwork in its entirety must be originally made by the person entering the contest.
   a. Any artwork containing a plagiarized portion will be disqualified.
6. Only FOUR artworks per student is allowed.
7. Artworks containing inappropriate content will be disqualified.
8. Optional but recommended, kindly include a caption/description.
9. The artworks will be assessed based on the following: Composition/Elements (30%),
   Creativity (20%), Relevance to the Theme (20%), Technical Quality (15%), Overall
   Quality (15%).
10. The artworks will be solely judged by the Southwinds staff. Their decision will be final
    and irrevocable

The Southwinds Magazine Spring 2020 is now available online!