- Annual prizes for poetry and prose awarded by Green Mountain Power and Vermont Magazine
- Winning entries in each category are published in the summer issue of Vermont Magazine, available now
COLCHESTER, Vt. – Green Mountain Power (GMP) announced the winners of the 2024 Vermont Writers’ Prize, which are featured now in the summer issue of Vermont Magazine. In the poetry category, D. Slayton Avery won for “At the Fair,” and in the prose category, Thea Lewis won for “Farm Boy,” a short story. Along with being published in Vermont Magazine, both writers also receive $1,250. The Vermont Writers’ prize has been awarded each year since 1989 and is sponsored by Green Mountain Power and Vermont Magazine.
“Every year, the Vermont Writers’ Prize entries show us just how passionate people are about the Green Mountain State,” said Dr. Joshua Sherman, CEO of Old Mill Road Media and Publisher of Vermont Magazine. “We’re consistently impressed by the quality of the writing, and this year was no exception. Thank you to all the writers and poets who shared their works with us. The judges faced a daunting task in selecting the winners. We’re thrilled to honor D. Slayton Avery and Thea Lewis as this year’s deserving recipients.”
The story “Farm Boy” is the story of a Vermonter whose life takes him away from the farm, and Vermont, and the emotional ride of returning home as an adult to the place where you started. The poem “At the Fair” evokes the sights and sounds that are so familiar to Vermonters who visit these long-running summer fairs, and it highlights how the simplest things can create deep connections to a place. You can read the winning entries here.
“This is the 35th year of the Vermont Writers’ Prize, and we are so excited for both winners,” said Kristin Carlson, a GMP vice president who serves as a judge for this prize. “Vermont means so many different things to different people, and it is inspiring and educational to see how Vermonters reflect that through their writing.”
The prize is open to Vermont residents and entries are accepted for poetry and prose. Your poem, short story, essay, or play should explore Vermont – its people, places, values, or history.
You can learn more details and start submitting entries for the 2025 Vermont Writers’ Prize here. The deadline to enter is January 1, 2025.
About Green Mountain Power
Green Mountain Power serves more than 275,000 residential and business customers in Vermont with electricity that’s 100% carbon free and 80% renewable on an annual basis. GMP is partnering with customers to provide solutions that deliver resiliency and affordability while cutting carbon and costs for all. GMP is the first utility in the world to get a B Corp certification, meeting rigorous social, environmental, accountability and transparency standards and committing to use business as a force for good. GMP was named to Fast Company’s 2024 Most Innovative Companies in the World list, the sixth time earning that honor. In 2024, 2023 and 2021 the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) honored GMP as a nationwide leader in energy transformation. And, in 2022 GMP was named to TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential Companies for its groundbreaking resiliency work to transform the grid for customers.
About Old Mill Road Media
Old Mill Road Media—based in East Arlington, VT— is the publisher of, VERMONT Magazine, STRATTON Magazine, MANCHESTER LIFE, BERKSHIRE Magazine, Music in the Berkshires, and The Vermont News Guide. In addition, Old Mill Road offers a full range of media services, including Audio and Video Production in our state-of-the-art, award-winning Recording Studio, Graphic Design services, Website Design services, and Social Media management. oldmillroadmedia.com
Every year, the Vermont Writers’ Prize entries show us just how passionate people are about the Green Mountain State. We’re consistently impressed by the quality of the writing, and this year was no exception.
Dr. Joshua Sherman, CEO of Old Mill Road Media and Publisher of Vermont Magazine
