John Esten Cooke Fiction Award
じょん・えすてん・くっく しょうせつしょう
Annual literary award encouraging long fiction that depicts characters and events from the Civil War or Southern history with historical accuracy.
- Established
- 0
- Organizer
- Military Order of the Stars and Bars
- Category
- Genre Fiction
- Selection Method
- Open call
- Target
- Open
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Application Deadline
- around March
- Announcement Period
- around April
- Status
- Active
Description
The John Esten Cooke Fiction Award is given annually to encourage writers who depict characters and events related to the Civil War, the Confederate legacy, or Southern history in a historically accurate manner. It is an open-call award targeting book-length fiction, judged based on "effectiveness of research," "accuracy of statement," and "excellence of style," with a prize (grant) of $1,000 USD awarded. The organizer is the Military Order of the Stars and Bars, one of the three literary awards they conduct annually. Please check the official website of the organizer for detailed application requirements, deadlines, and announcement methods.
Prize
- Main Prize
- Grant/prize awarded in a competition targeting book-length works (prize money: $1,000 USD)
- Cash Prize
- 1,000 USD
- Grant
- Targets book-length fiction
- Publication of winners (organizer's website, etc.)
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application reception and document verification | Reception confirmation by the secretariat of the organizing body (Military Order of the Stars and Bars) | — | — |
| Final selection (Selection committee) | Selection committee by Military Order of the Stars and Bars | — | Announced on the organizer's website and notification to winners |
Criteria
- Effectiveness of research
- Accuracy of statement
- Excellence of style
Application Tips
Dos
- Thoroughly research primary sources and literature
- Aim for accurate descriptions based on historical facts
- Polish writing style, emphasizing readability and clarity of expression
- Demonstrate volume and structural completion as a book-length work
- Check the official website in advance for application rules, format, and deadlines
Don''ts
- Including historical claims without substantiation
- Neglecting literature research
- Submitting in formats that do not match the rules (short stories or unfinished drafts, etc.)
- Disregarding important historical facts
From Judges
- Effective research and source backing are emphasized in judging
- Prioritize historical accuracy in writing
- Writing style precision and expressiveness greatly influence pass/fail
- Demonstrating completion as a book (structure and consistency) is beneficial
Related Awards
- Other annual literary awards hosted by Military Order of the Stars and Bars (other awards among the organization's total of 3 literary awards)