MADISON — The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters is proud to announce the winners of the 31st annual Wisconsin People & Ideas Poetry and Fiction contests. This unique statewide contest supports both established and emerging Wisconsin writers with a cash prize, publication, and a week-long residency.
“The talent and artistry of Wisconsin’s writers is stunning. This year, our judging team included two beloved, Wisconsin-based writers — Denise Sweet and Maggie Ginsberg — and they had the delightful but formative task of reading an incredible number of submissions from familiar and brand-new writers,” said Erika Monroe-Kane, Academy Executive Director. “The winning selection of short stories and poems are relatable, reminding readers of our shared humanity and offering windows into different life experiences.”
The winning poetry and stories will be published in the summer issue of Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine. Annual contest winners also receive a week of room and board on the 2.5 acre campus of Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts in Mineral Point, as well as $500 apiece. They will present at the Wisconsin Book Festival as part of a special reading on Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at Madison Central Library.
First prize in the fiction category went to Elizabeth Hendricks of New Berlin for “Counting Crows”. John Mulvihill of New Glarus was second with “Full House”, while Hanna Greendale of Waunakee was third with “Waiting”.
Mulvihill grew up in central Iowa but has lived in Wisconsin for the last twenty-five years. He has a BA from Grinnell College and a PhD from the University of Iowa. He has taught literature and writing at the University of Iowa, Drake University, UW-Milwaukee, and for the last eight years at UW-Madison. He lives in New Glarus with his wife Kathryn and daughter Vivienne. What he likes most about writing fiction is setting himself a puzzle — what is this about? — then trying to figure it out and being surprised by the answer.
Since 1994, Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine has sponsored the premier annual fiction and poetry contests for Wisconsin writers. All contest judging is done blindly and the winning submissions are selected through criteria established by the individual judges, who serve for one year. The 2026 window for submission opens January 15, 2026; deadline is March 31, 2026. Winning entries from the past five years can be found at wisconsinacademy.org/content/writing-contests.
The Wisconsin Academy has been bringing people together through exploration of the sciences, arts, and letters since 1870. The Academy recognizes excellence through the annual Fiction & Poetry Awards and the Fellows Awards for leadership. The Academy showcases contemporary Wisconsin art at the James Watrous Gallery, examines science and culture in Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine, and explores pathways to a sustainable future through its Climate and Energy Initiative.
