CLEVELAND Writing contest winners named

Four writers from the Youngstown area won prizes.
CLEVELAND -- Several Ohio writers received top prizes in the 2001 Best of Ohio Writers writing contest sponsored by Ohio Writer magazine. More than 550 entries were received in four categories -- creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry and writers on writing.
"For this year's contest, we received the greatest number of entries we've ever had. Because of that, and because the quality of entries was so high, competition was fierce," said Gail Bellamy, who co-edits the magazine with her husband, Stephen Bellamy. Stephen added, "It demonstrates what we already know: that Ohio has a very strong writing community."
First prize winners received $150 and publication in the January/February issue of Ohio Writer.
Winners: Youngstown writer William Greenway won first prize in the writers on writing category for his essay "Clouds of Glory: The Intelligence of Images"; Amy Morgenstern of Dayton took the creative nonfiction category with "My Life as a Schmuck: An Independent Woman Dates at the Turn of the Century"; Loranne Temple of Mount Vernon received first prize in fiction for "Coming to You from the Blue Room, Circa 1956"; and Steve Brightman of Burton won in the poetry category for "Nothing But Targets."
Philip Brady of Youngstown received honorable mentions in the creative nonfiction and writers on writing categories for "Prologue: Arachne" and "Ginsberg in Ballydehob" respectively. Receiving honorable mention in the writers on writing section were Karen Echard Boyle of East Palestine for "My Early Years as a Reader," and Patti Capel Swartz of East Liverpool for "How to Be the It Girl in the New Millennium."
In addition to winning first prize in the writers on writing section, Greenway received an honorable mention for his poems "Breedlove," "Natural History" and "The Dead Go on Before Us."
About the group: Ohio Writer -- published bi-monthly by the Poets' & amp; Writers' League of Greater Cleveland, one of the oldest and most recognized literary organizations in the country -- recently underwent an extensive redesign by Berea art director Christopher Roberto. Subscriptions to the magazine are $15 ($2.50 for a single issue) and can be ordered by calling the Poets' & amp; Writers' League at (216) 421-0403 or e-mailing pwlgc@msn.com.
Entry forms for next year's contest are also available from the League. Deadline for submissions is July 31, 2002. The entry fee is $15.