I read the subject line, “Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle 2024,” skim the email for news, and finally locate a hearty, “Congratulations!” in the midst of a paragraph. (Cue me sprinting across the house to find my mom and twin sister, skidding to a halt with a squeal reminiscent of Broadway actress Kara Lindsay in the middle of her rendition of Newsies’ “Watch What Happens.”)
Following this exciting moment, I maintained a back-and-forth email exchange with the Managing Editor of Publications, Dr. Carie King, initially with gratitude and then with a test of my editorial skills as I created a compromise between my original vision for the piece and the review copy I received prior to publication. I do love proofreading; setting to work on this mission to resolve the alterations into a version with which everyone was content proved challenging yet satisfying. During this time of correspondence, I received an email I assumed to be a reply from Dr. King. I failed to notice, however, that the subject line read, “Congratulations, Erika! Sigma Tau Delta Award.” (Cue me standing speechless for a solid 15 seconds before sprinting to inform my mom and twin sister, this time without a squeal because of my dazedness.) This award was the Elizabeth Holtze Best Personal or Informal Essay Award, conferred with both commendation and a $500 prize. I was—and remain—stunned to be the recipient for 2024.
I have been a member of Sigma Tau Delta since my induction to the Alpha Alpha Alpha Chapter of Saint Leo University (what a glorious time indeed), subsequently joining the ranks of Alumni Epsilon and now the Alpha Phi Beta Chapter of Southern New Hampshire University Online as a graduate student. I had rarely considered the possibility of submitting my creative work to publications until my exposure to submission opportunities while at Saint Leo. During the past four and a half years since I began submitting, I have had more than 40 poems, short stories, creative nonfiction pieces, and images published around the world. Several of these works have even earned awards and recognitions. I am always flabbergasted when they do, as with the Rectangle. For perspective, though, I have completed upwards of 700 submissions, placing my percentage of acceptance within the typical three- to five-percent range and my number of rejections at more than 600 thus far. Embracing the rejections is equally as important as the acceptances. If you wish to become more comfortable with criticism, reviews, and having eyes on your work, submitting—a lot!—is worth the initial discomfort.
I generally tend to be selective about the places to which I submit my creative work, and I prefer print publications. However, owing to the prestigious nature of the Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle, the cataloguing of the journal in the Library of Congress, and the possibility of an award, I heartily considered submitting. But what to submit? Since I am currently pursuing my MA in English and Creative Writing with a concentration in Poetry, I would typically be inclined to submit a poem (or three). In this case, though, I felt compelled to search through my unpublished pieces for something so ideal I could not turn away from it. “Ms. Monkey Bread” was this very piece. As if the Holy Spirit touched my heart, I understood without a doubt that this was the work I should submit. And it made sense, too; on the off chance my work might be good enough for acceptance, I would have a better chance of earning an award for creative nonfiction than poetry. I know I am one of many poets—especially in Sigma Tau Delta—and these poets are of such merit that my possibility of even acceptance for Poetry could be slimmer than for a less-popular category like Creative Nonfiction.
How blessed am I to be writing this post regarding my publication and award. Until its acceptance in the Rectangle, “Ms. Monkey Bread” previously received a dozen rejections. Once, it was even shortlisted for a contest, Storm Cellar‘s Force Majeure Flash Contest, yet nothing came of it (besides a nicely-personalized email doubling as a rejection notice). With your own work, submissions, and pursuits, I invite you to refuse to surrender to your first or second—or hundredth—rejection. Stay the course and watch what happens! Someday, you too may find yourself staring at an acceptance letter with equal amounts amazement and joy before sprinting to tell your best friends. You may even find yourself reading your work at a convention among fellow creatives, mere steps from the Gateway Arch—a gateway to your bright future.
Erika B. Girard
Elizabeth Holtze Best Personal or Informal Essay Award recipient for “Ms. Monkey Bread,” published in the 2024 Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle (pp. 83-86)
Alpha Phi Beta Chapter
Southern New Hampshire University Online, Manchester, NH
Journal Submissions
Annually, Sigma Tau Delta publishes two journals to distribute the best writing and criticism produced by active members of the Society.
Undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled through the spring semester and are members of active Sigma Tau Delta chapters are invited to submit their work to the Sigma Tau Delta Review and the Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle. Chapter Advisors, faculty members, alumni, and honorary members are not eligible to submit.
Submissions for the Sigma Tau Delta journals are accepted via AwardSpring during the Spring Awards Cycle (March 10 – April 7, 2025, at 4 p.m. CT).
Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle (founded in 1931) is an annual journal of creative writing—fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Submissions should not exceed 2,500 words. Members whose works are published also may participate in a reading at the annual Sigma Tau Delta convention.
Sigma Tau Delta Review (founded in 2005) is an annual journal that publishes critical essays on literature and rhetoric/composition and essays devoted to pedagogical topics. Submissions should not exceed 3,000 words, excluding notes and works cited. Critical essays follow the style guidelines as defined in the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (latest edition).
Publication and Awards
These journals are refereed, with jurors from around the world selecting works to be published. The journals have had illustrious head judges including Jane Brox, Henri Cole, Jim Daniels, W.D. Earhardt, CJ Hribal, Kyoko Mori, Lisa Russ Spaar, and Mako Yoshikawa.
The Sigma Tau Delta journals are catalogued with the Library of Congress.
These publications reach chapters worldwide and also honor the best writing in each category, with five awards (each $500):
Award categories:
- E. Nelson James Poetry Award
- Eleanor B. North Poetry Award
- Frederic Fadner Critical Essay Award
- Herbert L. Hughes Short Story Award
- Elizabeth Holtze Creative Nonfiction Award
Claim your copy of the 2025 Sigma Tau Delta Journals to read samples of the quality of work habitually accepted for publication.
Resources
Submitting to the Sigma Tau Delta Journals? It’s Easier Than You Think!
My Experience Being Published in the Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle
Submitting to the Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle: You Can Now Call Me an Author
4 Tips for a Winning Submission from a Rectangle Contributor
Sigma Tau Delta Journals
Submission Guidelines
Submission Tips & FAQ
Claim Your Copy of the 2025 E-Journal
More from Footnotes: April 1, 2025
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