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The MSU Writing Contest is offering cash prizes in five categories for 1998-99.

The categories are short story, informal essay, one-act play, poetry, and formal essay. Each will have three winners, with first- and second-place representing MSU at a regional contest sponsored by the Southern Literary Festival.

Writers must be undergraduates and must be enrolled for credit during the 1998-99 school year. Works entered cannot have been published except in campus newspapers or magazines. Essays, stories and plays may not exceed 5,000 words and poetry must not exceed 100 lines for either one poem or a group of related poems.

Research papers written for class, if they are not too narrowly technical, may be submitted as formal essays. All prose non-fiction works that don't use documentation will be considered informal essays.

Entries must be in by Nov. 20 and winners will be announced the following February.

To enter the competition, submit writing to: MSU Writing Contest, Drawer E, English Department, Mississippi State, MS 39762.

For more information, telephone Dr. Richard Lyons of English at 325-2362.