“Assault of Laughter” Writing Contest
Mark Twain recognized the power of humor to combat even the most serious situations, but he also understood how to use this exceptional force as a means of mending such matters. According to Twain, laughter exists as the “one really effective weapon” available to the human race, yet it is, at the same time, “the great thing, the saving thing after all.” In the spirit of Twain’s sense of humor and his understanding of its power, The Twain Lecture Series and The Writing Center present the “Assault of Laughter” Writing Contest. Entrants will utilize the full power of humor to explore a range of issues affecting society and culture today.
2015 Winners:
1st Place: Chris Joyce ’15 – “Don’t Bring Me Down“
2nd Place: Sam Coomes ’18 – “Plumber’s Code“
3rd Place: Alpha Cotay ’18 – “Career Days: Dancing for Jesus“ and Gabe McKenna ’15 – “Hatchling“
Prizes
1st Place: $200.00
2nd Place: $100.00
3rd Place: $50.00
Winners will be announced at the 2015 Twain Lecture.
Last Years’ Winning Pieces (2014)
1st Place: Chris Joyce (SMCM Junior) – “Drip”
2nd Place: Thor Petersen (SMCM Senior) – “Why I Have a P.O.”
3rd Place: Greg Croisetiere (SMCM alum) – “Life of the Party”
Contest Guidelines
Who Can Apply
Alumni of St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Writing Guidelines
- Choose a local, national, global, or intergalactic issue with current cultural or social relevance.
- Write a humorous piece to examine or explore the issue (1,000-2,000 words, all genres welcome).
- Submit your piece to Dr. Ben Click via e-mail (baclick@smcm.edu) as a Word Document or PDF attachment on or before the Ides of March (Google it).
Judges
Dr. Brian O’Sullivan, Professor of English
Dr. Jeff Hammond, Professor of English, George B. and Willma Reeves, Distinguished Professor in the Liberal Arts