For nine years, the Jim Wayne Miller Celebration of Writing has honored the best fiction and poetry writers at Western.

This year, the ten finalists will be honored on Sunday for their writing and be given the opportunity to hone their craft with distinguished fiction writer Sally Bingham.

A writing workshop, literary reading and reception will commemorate the memory of the late Jim Wayne Miller and celebrate the writings of Western students.

English professor Mary Ellen Miller, Miller’s widow and a member of the creative writing committee, said the event started after Miller’s death.

“He was a poet and a fiction writer,” she said. “It was a way to honor him and his contributions.”

Miller said the celebration has always included literary readings and a writing contest. This year’s competition will be for fiction writing.

The addition to the celebration is the writing workshop that will be conducted by Bingham.

Sally Bingham will critique the ten finalists’ entries and choose the first, second and third place winners.

Miller said the Louisville native’s literary works represent what the contest is known for.

Bingham will be reading from her novel, Cory’s Feast, and a collection of short stories, Transgressions.

Chuck Williamson, a senior from Hattiesburg, Miss., said he is excited to be able to work with an accomplished writer.

“Not only are we celebrating, but we’re also learning to have our craft tempered a little bit,” he said. “We’re being lead by someone who has experience in the field.”

Williamson competed in last year’s event. Though the contest is competitive, Williamson said the event does create a sense of community for Western’s writers.

Williamson’s short story, “Patrol,” will be among the ten literary pieces judged.

He said the evening will be engaging.

“This is a place for people that wish to be creative and who wish to push their writing seriously,” he said. “It’s going to be very fun.”

The writers will meet in Room 103 of the Garrett Center for the reading. The winners also will be announced. A reception will follow in the lobby.

Reach Stephanie Toone at features@wkuherald.com.