"Mason's Road," an online literary journal sponsored by Fairfield University's MFA in Creative Writing , awarded its first-ever $1,000 prize for creative non-fiction to Keema Waterfield, a promising young writer who divides her time between Missoula, Montana, and rural Alaska.

Waterfield's memoir excerpt, "Inside Passage," was singled out by the journal's first guest judge, Sarah Manguso, as a "terrifically compelling piece of writing."

"This narrator's close observation of an almost plotless experience - the slow drift of an Alaskan ferry - integrates effortlessly with scenes from a divided family," wrote Manguso, an award-winning author who has taught in Fairfield's MFA program. "I'm delighted to name it as the winner."

Waterfield's work was published in the third issue of the literary journal, along with original poetry, photography, craft essays and an audio interview with writer Ravi Shankar, a faculty advisor to "Mason's Road."

Waterfield, who holds an MFA from the University of Montana, writes for herself and sometimes as a freelancer. She is currently working on a collection of thematically linked essays about growing up in southeast Alaska. "Inside Passage" is the opening chapter.

"I write out of curiosity and wonder, driven by an urge to constantly discover new meaning in little things and big things alike. And because I have to," she said.

She learned of the "Mason's Road" contest through a call for submissions forwarded from her university and she was honored to win. "I'm thrilled to participate in the emergence of a new literary journal striving to advance the conversation between creative writers of all stripes," she said.

The fourth issue, which will feature image as its theme, is open for submissions until Tuesday, Nov. 15. The editorial team is seeking engaging fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, drama, art, craft essays and audio drama. To view submission guidelines or read Waterfield's work, visit http://masonsroad.com .

Posted On: 11-08-2011 11:11 AM

Volume: 44 Number: 111