Nota Bene Literary Competition
Nota Bene, Latin for “note well,” is Phi Theta Kappa’s honors anthology. It recognizes outstanding writing of Phi Theta Kappa members and demonstrates to the literary public the academic excellence and commitment to scholarship found at colleges. The first issue of Nota Bene was published in 1994.

The author of the poem considered to be the best in that genre will be named Phi Theta Kappa’s International Poet Laureate. They will receive a $1,000 scholarship and have the opportunity to present an original poem at Honors Institute.
The Ewing Citation Award, a scholarship of $1,000, is given to the author of the Nota Bene manuscript considered to be the most outstanding of all entries except the poetry category.
This award is named in honor of Nell Ewing, long-time Phi Theta Kappa staff member who was a driving force behind Nota Bene, beginning with its conceptual design and establishment. Ewing retired in 2012 after serving 26 years with Phi Theta Kappa.
Four authors receive the Reynolds Scholarship Awards, scholarships of $500 each. These awards are endowed by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. They honor the memory of the late Donald W. Reynolds, founder of the Donrey Media Group.
The Nota Bene Literary Competition is currently closed. Check back in the fall for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for the next issue of Nota Bene?
The application is currently closed and will reopen early fall 2023.
Who can submit entries to Nota Bene?
Only Phi Theta Kappa members may submit manuscripts. Members may only submit manuscripts while enrolled in a two-year degree program or one-year certificate program.
PTK members and alumni currently seeking bachelors, masters, or doctoral degrees or those no longer attending college are ineligible.
What can be submitted?
Poetry, short stories, essays and drama are accepted for consideration.
There is an overall limit of five (5) entries per person.
There are limits on the number of entries one person can submit in a single genre:
- No more than five (5) poems may be submitted.
- No more than three (3) short stories may be submitted.
- No more than three (3) essays may be submitted.
- No more than three (3) works of drama may be submitted.
No single entry may exceed 2,500 words. Works Cited Lists are not included in the word count.
For best results, we suggest uploading a PDF file. Please, only one entry per file.
While it is not necessary to add a cover sheet to your work, we do suggest that you use your name and the title of your work as a header on each page.
How are the works selected for publication?
Advisors Emeriti and PTK staff serve as the first-round judges. They will read through submissions and narrow the field to about a hundred entries.
We have three second-round judges who read the final 100 entries and select the top 20-30 for publication. This group also selects scholarship recipients.
What is the selection timeline
The first round of judging occurs in the summer, and final selections are typically made in the fall.
Everyone will be notified about the status of their submission via email in late fall.
Can a member submit more than one entry in more than one category?
A member may submit manuscripts in any category they wish, as long as the total number of works entered does not exceed five (5).
There are limits on the number of entries one person can submit in a single genre:
- No more than five (5) poems may be submitted.
- No more than three (3) short stories may be submitted.
- No more than three (3) essays may be submitted.
- No more than three (3) works of drama may be submitted.
Where can I read Nota Bene?
A digital copy of the issue will be available on this page in the winter.
How do I submit manuscripts to Nota Bene?
All Nota Bene entries must be submitted electronically using the form on this page. Hard copies of manuscripts will not be accepted.
Are awards given to Nota Bene authors?
The Ewing Citation Scholarship Award of $1,000 is given to the author of the Nota Bene manuscript considered to be the most outstanding of all entries. It is named in honor of the late Nell Ewing, long-time Phi Theta Kappa staff member who was a driving force behind Nota Bene, beginning with its conceptual design and establishment. She retired in 2012 after serving 26 years with Phi Theta Kappa.
The International Poet Laureate Award of $1,000 is given to the author of the most outstanding poem. In addition to the scholarship award, the International Poet Laureate will be invited to present their poem during one of Phi Theta Kappa’s international events.
The Reynolds Scholarship Awards of $500 each are given to up to four authors whose manuscripts were deemed outstanding. These awards are endowed by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and honor the memory of the late Donald W. Reynolds, founder of the Donrey Media Group.
All members will be notified by email, regardless of whether their entries were selected for publication. After all scholarship winners have been notified, a list of winning entries will be published on the Phi Theta Kappa website. Members whose entries have been selected to be published retain the rights to their work.
Plagiarism Policy
All works submitted to Nota Bene must be the work of the author. If a work submitted is determined to be plagiarized from any source, the following steps will be taken:
- The member who submitted the plagiarized works will be notified by letter of the incidence of plagiarism with proof supplied.
- The plagiarized submission and any other submission by that member will be disqualified from consideration for publication in Nota Bene.
- The member’s chapter advisor and college president will be notified by letter of the incidence of plagiarism and proof will be supplied to each of them.
Past Editions
Questions?
Email Nota Bene Support.