EUGENE, Ore. -- (Jan. 7, 2011) -- The deadline for entries in the 12th annual Northwest Perspectives Essay Contest, sponsored by Oregon Quarterly, the magazine of the University of Oregon, and the Duck Store is drawing near. Entries must be postmarked by Jan. 15.

The winning selection will appear in Oregon Quarterly's summer issue and nearly $2,000 in prize money will be awarded to top essays, which will be judged by Debra Gwartney. The author of the memoir "Live Through This," Gwartney teaches nonfiction writing at Portland State University and was winner of the first Northwest Perspectives Essay Contest 12 years ago.

Entries should be nonfiction, should not have been previously published, and should be no more than 1,500 words in the student category and 2,000 words in the open category.

Fifteen finalists will be announced in the Summer 2011 issue of Oregon Quarterly. All finalists will be invited to participate in a writing workshop with the contest judge. No entry fee required. Find complete guidelines at www.OregonQuarterly.com.

Past judges have been Kim Stafford, Barry Lopez, John Daniel, Karen Karbo, Brian Doyle, Lauren Kessler, Craig Lesley, Molly Gloss, Kathleen Dean Moore, Kenny Moore and Thomas Hager.

About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research institution and Oregon's flagship public university. The UO is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization made up of the 63 leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada. The University of Oregon is one of only two AAU members in the Pacific Northwest.

CONTACT: Ross West, Oregon Quarterly, 541-346-5047, rwest@uoregon.edu

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