Theme: Jukebox
The theme for our Fall Contest is “jukebox.” There are many ways to interpret this theme, and that is by design! This is an opportunity to get creative—pick a sound or song and use it to inspire a piece! We want to see work with unique ideas and perspectives, a strong command of the written word, a clear voice, and emotional depth.
We invite you to explore the following to prompt—but not limit—your thinking:
Is there a song or sound that evokes a vivid or significant memory for you? Whether it’s a childhood memory or something more recent, write about it!
When we picture a jukebox, we picture a 20th century diner, full of energy, neon lights, and vinyl booths. Use this image to inspire a piece.
Use an epigraph from a song to inform your piece. On the converse, add an epigraph from a song to a piece you’ve already written to support or subvert its meaning.
Songs often use poetic devices—repetition, metaphor, imagery, allusion, etc. Pick a song and borrow stylistic choices to inform your own piece.
In some ways, our minds are like jukeboxes, flipping from one memory/song to the next. Write a series of brief vignettes that mirror the functionality of a jukebox.
