For our common reader-inspired event, Alpha Tau Iota—the local chapter of Sigma Tau Delta at the University of Iowa—hosted a writing prompt night for current and prospective members.
The goal of Writing Prompt Night was to introduce 2025 Common Reader Natalie Diaz’s When My Brother Was an Aztec to members, inspire writing, and prompt members to start on a piece to submit for convention, if they choose to do so. We selected a few poems from the collection: “When My Brother Was an Aztec,” “Abecedarian . . . ,” “Why I Hate Raisin,” and “Tortilla Smoke: A Genesis.”
We had seventeen members in attendance, including six officers and our Chapter Advisor. Our Advisor, Marie Kruger, opened the meeting with a presentation reviewing the submission process for the convention. She explained the types of possible submissions, the deadline, and best practices for submitting to convention. Our President, Elizabeth Von Loh, gave a brief overview of the Common Reader. Our other officers ensured members signed-in on our attendance sheet and conversed with them before and during our writing prompt activity.
Our writing prompt activity was fairly open-ended. We wanted to give members the chance to consider how they would respond to Natalie Diaz’s work, instead of directing their writing with too narrow of a prompt. We dispersed copies of the poems on a couple tables and had everyone sit around them. These poems served as visual and conceptual inspiration for members; they were open to choose how to write in response to the common reader poems, whether that was to emulate a poem, respond with a different genre, or critically engage with its themes.
Hosting an event like this allowed us to foster a sense of community within our chapter. Though everyone settled into silence once they got into the flow of writing (our Vice President noted how eerie it was once people got in the groove!), everyone was enthusiastic to discuss their writing before and after. By using the Common Reader as inspiration, our chapter generated writing responses that will hopefully lead to convention submissions.
Alpha Tau Iota Chapter
University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
2026 Common Reader
The 2026 Common Reader, Jesmyn Ward’s Salvage the Bones discusses both storms (metaphorical and literal) and survival but, at its core, it is, essentially, a story about new beginnings. As Sigma Tau Delta’s 2026 Common Reader, the book challenges us to confront the aftermath of destruction—not only through the physical devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast that Ward describes, but also through the emotional and personal challenges faced by the novel’s main character, Esch.
Regents’ Common Reader Awards
The Regents’ Common Reader Awards provide an opportunity for individual chapters to organize and host a local event or activity based on the common reader. Chapter members do not need to attend the convention to apply. Contact your Regent and you may receive $100 for your event or activity.
Application Guidelines
Organize and host a local event or activity based on this text and apply for award money after your event. Submit to your Regent via email the Regents Fund Request form as well as the following materials in a single PDF:
- A cover letter, signed by the Chapter Advisor (or sent from the Advisor’s email address), confirming that the activity or event took place
- A narrative, not to exceed 500 words, describing the activity or event
- A list of all participating persons or groups
- Pertinent supplemental materials (event program, flyers, website, social media posts, campus news story, etc.)
The Regents’ Common Reader Award is open to all chapters of Sigma Tau Delta. It is completely separate to convention submissions. The Regents hope this award will be a way for chapters in each region to share a convention-related experience even if they are not able to attend the convention. We hope it will encourage relative, text-based activities and events. And, lastly, we hope it will give space to reflect on the power of language both in our own lives and in the lives of others.
Common Reader Convention Awards
Awards of up to $600 will be given at the annual convention for critical essays or other genres of work that deal with the Common Reader. To be eligible, students select in the submission form that their work is on the Common Reader.
Convention Submissions
Consider submitting a critical or creative paper or a roundtable inspired by the 2026 Common Reader to the 2026 Convention. Applications will be open September 22 through October 27, 2025. Learn more about convention submissions on the convention website.
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honor Society, was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. The Society strives to
- Confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies;
- Provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and the English language in surrounding communities;
- Foster all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language, and writing;
- Promote exemplary character and good fellowship among its members;
- Exhibit high standards of academic excellence; and
- Serve society by fostering literacy.
With over 900 active chapters located in the United States and abroad, there are more than 1,000 Faculty Advisors, and approximately 9,000 members inducted annually.
Sigma Tau Delta also recognizes the accomplishments of professional writers who have contributed to the fields of language and literature.
