FAQs

What do you mean by “original student writing”?

By original student writing we mean writing that reflects your own unique perspective and writing abilities. It may include ideas and even quotations from other people, but they must be acknowledged with citations and you must use the ideas and writing of others to make something new. 

How can technology be used in producing "original student writing"?

The use of technology in developing submissions to the Miller Student Writing Awards/Competition is permitted only for the basic functions of factual research and word processing including spell- and grammar-checking, finding synonyms, and the like.

Submissions must not employ generative AI for producing content, including plot and character development, or for writing sentences, lines of poetry, paragraphs, or other text.

 If you have questions about exactly how technology can and cannot used in creating works to be entered in the Miller Student Writing Awards/Competition, please address them to jonmillerprizes@ncssm.edu .   We will be happy to clarify any aspects of our policies that are unclear to you before you submit your work(s).  Note that there may be a lag time before we are able to reply, so please ask questions as early as possible. 

Please note:  Violations of our "original student writing" policy will result in disqualification.  However, if we have reason to believe that AI engines were used to generate text in an entry, we will contact the author to discuss the potential conflict with our policy before making a decision about its acceptability.

What kind of citations are required?

If you use ideas or quotations from others, you must include a citation of the sources of those ideas and words just as you would in any serious academic or professional production. You may use any standard citation format you like. If you have questions about what to cite and how to document it, ask a teacher for advice. You won’t be disqualified for minor errors of citation type, but do take your responsibility for honesty and integrity seriously, as we will.

What do you mean by short fiction? 

By short fiction we mean either a short story or a short play. Short stories must be a minimum of 250 words and a maximum of 2500 words in length.  Short plays must be a minimum of 250 words and a maximum of 3000 words in length.  Either of these forms may be traditional or experimental in form and content, but the work should be predominantly textual rather than visual in format and must be compatible with Microsoft Word format.

Are awards from this competition taxable?

The IRS considers cash prizes and awards as taxable income. If the total amount of prizes and awards an individual receives from the NCSSM Foundation in a calendar year exceeds $600, an IRS Form-1099 will be issued. 

When combined with other funds an individual received from the NCSSM Foundation during a calendar year, awards from this competition could result in the issuance of an IRS Form-1099.

Can you submit previously submitted work (for example, sent to other writing competitions or published in a student literary magazine)?

You can submit work previously submitted to other competitions if it was not awarded a prize in the competition. You can submit work previously submitted to student magazines if it was not published. Works previously awarded prizes or previously published anywhere may not be submitted. The only exceptions to this restriction are works by current NCSSM students that have been accepted by or published in the Blue Mirror, NCSSM's arts and literary magazine. Those works may be submitted to this competition.