USU creative writing student John Gilmore was recently named the first-ever winner of the Norman Mailer College Nonfiction Writing Award. According to the Norman Mailer Society Web site, the award represents a joint venture by the National Council of Teachers of English and the Norman Mailer Writers Colony and includes a $10,000 prize and a summer fellowship.

Gilmore said the award money is “nothing compared to the exposure,” especially being the award’s first winner.

“It’s the luckiest thing that could ever happen,” Gilmore said.

Jennifer Sinor, a professor at the university, said the exposure will not only benefit Gilmore but the USU creative writing program as a whole. The creative writing emphasis is relatively young, Sinor said, having been at USU for roughly five years and having a USU student as the first winner of the Mailer award adds credibility to the program.

“It really does put that emphasis on the map nationally,” Sinor said. “It gives the whole program energy and enthusiasm. You can be from Utah and be recognized for your work.”

Gilmore said he started at USU as a journalism major but quickly switched to the creative writing program to “do more of the fun stuff.” His award-winning essay, “Final Cascade,” is a braided narrative, combining elements of natural erosion, disease and personal reflection. For one braid, Gilmore visited the Uintah Mountains where he once camped as part of a youth group and wrote about his experiences there and the relationship between himself and his former youth leader, whom Gilmore had distanced.

“In writing the essay we reconnected,” Gilmore said.

Sinor said the essay’s structure is difficult to master and “Final Cascade” in particular is a complicated and well-written piece.

“John is a very talented writer,” Sinor said.

Gilmore, a senior, said he hopes the award and experience from the summer fellowship will help him enter a good doctorate program, and he intends to continue at USU for his master’s degree.

“The professors (at USU) are fantastic,” Gilmore said.

Graduate students in the department often teach English 1010 and 2010 and Sinor said if Gilmore does remain at USU, he will be a great example for younger students.

“Undergraduates would benefit from having him as a teacher,” Sinor said.

Gilmore said while he understood Mailer’s writing style, he has a bit of familiarizing to do with the late writer’s work before the summer fellowship.

“Now I’m reading it all as fast as I can,” Gilmore said.

“Final Cascade” was written for an advanced nonfiction class, Gilmore said, and was mostly completed before he decided to submit it for the award. Gilmore performed some revision on the essay and ultimately shortened it before the final version was selected by the Writers Colony.

Sinor said Gilmore’s writing is similar to Mailer’s, saying that he is “edgy” and combines lyrical voice with extensive research.

The Norman Mailer Society Web site states that entries were evaluated on the criteria of “originality; insight; clear voice and style; artful arrangement of elements and materials; and overall aesthetic, emotional or intellectual effect.”

Gilmore said the essay addresses some big issues, and he felt some hesitation in presenting the essay to his former youth leader. In the end though, Gilmore was surprised by the criticism he received.

“I never served you burnt pancakes,” Gilmore said he was told.

– b.c.wood@aggiemail.usu.edu