Augusta University professor’s short story earns Pushcart Prize nomination

Spencer Wise, PhD, associate professor of English in the Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at Augusta University, recently received a Pushcart Prize nomination for his short story “Lake People,” published in Issue 70 of The Tampa Review. This nomination places his story among a small group of works recognized nationally for literary excellence. 

Wise said the nomination was especially meaningful because it reflected the editorial team’s strong support for the story.

“As a writer, you get a lot of rejection,” he said. “So when there’s good news, you really have to milk it.” 

“Lake People” follows a young man who moves with his father to a wealthy summer lake community in New Hampshire. While working at a local nature center, the narrator learns the building sits on an ancestral Abenaki burial ground, forcing him to confront questions of belonging, history and responsibility. Wise describes it as a “fish-out-of-water” story, one shaped by his own childhood experiences visiting similar lake communities and a real-life land dispute that stayed with him for years. 

The story evolved through many drafts, with scenes shifting and subplots being pared back over time. “I kept trying to strip it down to the essentials,” Wise said, noting that revision remains a central part of his writing process. 

“Dr. Wise’s Pushcart Prize nomination is a significant achievement and a wonderful reflection of the talent within our faculty” said Kim Davies, PhD, dean of Pamplin College. “His dedication to his craft and mentorship of students make our Creative Writing program stronger every day. We are proud to celebrate this honor with him.” 

In addition to the Pushcart nomination, Wise has also received recognition through Best of the Net, an award honoring literary work published online. He sees this as a sign of how the publishing landscape has changed, with many respected journals now operating digitally. 

Wise said his publishing experience directly impacts his teaching and hopes students see creative writing as a pathway to community, whether that leads to writing, editing or book production.

“People keep creating because there’s something they’re burning to say,” he said. “Part of my job is to convince students that what they have to say matters.” 

Wise is currently working on a new novel set to be released in 2027, along with another project connected to the world of “Lake People.”