News release Public Information Office  SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 3/3/04   SLU’S “LOUISIANA LITERATURE” SPONSORS ANNUAL POETRY COMPETITION       HAMMOND -- “Louisiana Literature,” Southeastern Louisiana University’s award-wining literary magazine, is seeking entries for its annual poetry competition.       Entries for the18th annual Louisiana Literature Prize for Poetry, which includes a $400  award, must be submitted by April 15, said editor Jack Bedell of Southeastern’s English Department faculty.       Bedell said all entries -- either a poem or group of poems -- will be considered for publication in “Louisiana Literature.”        For a $12 handling fee, which also earns a one-year subscription to the journal, United States residents may enter one to five poems, totaling 250 lines, Bedell said. “Poems may be on any topic. All work must be previously unpublished, and a name and address must appear on each poem,” he said.       Along with entries, participants should send check or money order payable to Louisiana Literature and a self-addressed, stamped envelope for contest results. Manuscripts cannot be returned, but entrants should send a second envelope if they want notification of receipt.       Entries should be mailed to Louisiana Literature, Poetry Contest, SLU 792, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond LA 70402.        Southeastern began publishing “Louisiana Literature” in 1984. The literary magazine has been honored for its design by the Council of Editors of Learned Journals, the nationwide organization of scholarly and literary journals. Louisiana Literature Press was established in 1998 and has printed a series of poetry chapbooks; a novel and poem by Paul Ruffin; and   “Gleanings,” a collection of award-winning poems by Vivian Shipley, which has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. This year, Louisiana Literature Press will issue the poems of Cuban-born writer Virgil Saurez.        For additional information, contact Bedell at jbedell@selu.edu or 985-549-5756 or visit www.selu.edu/lalit.