by Lesley Bell
Daily Lobo
The deadline for Best Student Essays has been extended to Oct. 11, in order to give more students opportunities to enter said Scott Frank, editor of the publication.
"We encourage all kinds of essays, from research papers to critical analyses to creative nonfiction - even photo essays," said assistant editor Monika Dziamka. "We look for strong arguments, clear and concise writing, topics that are thought-provoking. Basically, we just want to represent the cream of the crop of UNM in terms of essay-writing skills."
Frank said students need no experience to be published in this magazine.
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"This opportunity is open to both undergraduate and graduate students," Frank said.
One does have to be nominated by a teacher, but Frank said it doesn't have to be the teacher a student wrote it for, and it doesn't have to be from this semester.
"I like to look for work that has been researched thoroughly. I like to see both sides presented," said Michael Terrazas, production manager of the publication. "The only writing that I wouldn't accept is research that someone didn't take a genuine interest in - writing submitted without any passion."
Frank, a nontraditional student majoring in English with emphasis on Creative Writing, further explained the type of work being sought.
"There's nothing new under the sun," he said. "Whatever you write is your personal perspective. We want to hear your view of the world. We're concerned about the clarity of the idea, the quality of writing, and the author's voice. I want a paper that stays on topic, not somebody with a grudge or a chip on their shoulder."
Frank was first published at the age of 42, and his most recent book Tales from the Geronimo: My Seduction by Junk and Desert Dreams, is a personal memoir about one year of dealing marijuana in Tucson, Ariz.
He knows how hard it can be to get published, so he enjoys helping people through Best Student Essays.
"I just kind of know what clicks for a lot of people," he said.
This year is the 17th year of publication for Best Student Essays. Cash prizes are being offered for the best papers. Frank said the first place cash prize is $75, second is $35, and third is $15.
