2025 WRITING CONTESTS
Any writer may enter our contests, regardless of residence. Authors retain all rights. The entry fee for all contests is $30, or $25 for Workshop members.
You can mail your entry with return addressed envelope and check or money order to 387 Beaucatcher Road, Asheville NC,
or email in Word Doc to [email protected].
The entry fee is payable with any credit card by clicking here: paypal.me/twwoa - then hit "Send".
Your name, address, email, and title of work should appear on the first page.
The judges will pick the winners about 6 weeks after the contest deadline.
Scroll down for awards and submission guidelines.
Awards for all contests:
1st Place: 3 free workshops; or 35 pages (or 10 poems for poetry contests) line-edited and revised by our editorial staff
2nd Place: Two free workshops; or 25 pages (or 8 poems) line-edited
3rd Place: One free workshop; or 15 pages (or 5 poems) line-edited
10 Honorable Mentions
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LITERARY FICTION CONTEST
Deadline Extended to March 30, 2025
Guidelines:
Submit a short story or chapter of a novel of 5,000 words or less. Pages should be paper clipped, with your name, address, phone and title of work on the first page. Double-space, and use 12 point font.
The entry fee is $30/$25 Members per story. Multiple entries are accepted.
Emailed submissions in Word doc may be sent to [email protected], with “Fiction Contest” in the subject.
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ANNUAL POETRY COMPETITION
Deadline: Postmarked or emailed by June 30, 2025
Guidelines:
Submit up to 3 poems of two pages or less, emailed or regular post. Pages should be paper clipped, with your name, address, email, phone and title of work on the first page. Double-space, and use 12 point font.
The entry fee is $30 or $25 Workshop member for every three poems. Multiple entries are accepted.
Emailed submissions may be sent in Word Doc to [email protected], with “Poetry Contest” in the subject.
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HARD TIMES WRITING CONTEST
Deadline: Postmarked or emailed by September 30, 2025
Guidelines:
Write about a difficult experience in your life, how you overcame this obstacle, and how you were changed by it. Winning stories will be chosen for originality and creative writing style.
Stories should not exceed 5,000 words (double-spaced, 12 point font).
Your name, address, email, phone and title of work should appear on the first page. Enclose the reading fee of $30/$25 Workshop members per entry, or pay online. Multiple entries are accepted.
Emailed submissions in Word Doc may be sent to [email protected], with "Hard Times Contest" in the subject. Pay the entry fee here: paypal.me/twwoa
ANNUAL MEMOIRS COMPETITION
Deadline: Postmarked or emailed by Dec. 30, 2025
Guidelines:
Submit a memoir of 5,000 words or less. Pages should be paper clipped, with your name, address, email, phone and title of work on the first page. Double-space, and use 12 point font.
The entry fee is $30/$25 Members per memoir. Multiple entries are accepted. Emailed submissions may be sent in Word doc to [email protected], with “Memoirs Contest” in the subject.
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1st Place: 3 free workshops; or 35 pages (or 10 poems for poetry contests) line-edited and revised by our editorial staff
2nd Place: Two free workshops; or 25 pages (or 8 poems) line-edited
3rd Place: One free workshop; or 15 pages (or 5 poems) line-edited
10 Honorable Mentions
* * * * * * * * * * * *
LITERARY FICTION CONTEST
Deadline Extended to March 30, 2025
Guidelines:
Submit a short story or chapter of a novel of 5,000 words or less. Pages should be paper clipped, with your name, address, phone and title of work on the first page. Double-space, and use 12 point font.
The entry fee is $30/$25 Members per story. Multiple entries are accepted.
Emailed submissions in Word doc may be sent to [email protected], with “Fiction Contest” in the subject.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
ANNUAL POETRY COMPETITION
Deadline: Postmarked or emailed by June 30, 2025
Guidelines:
Submit up to 3 poems of two pages or less, emailed or regular post. Pages should be paper clipped, with your name, address, email, phone and title of work on the first page. Double-space, and use 12 point font.
The entry fee is $30 or $25 Workshop member for every three poems. Multiple entries are accepted.
Emailed submissions may be sent in Word Doc to [email protected], with “Poetry Contest” in the subject.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
HARD TIMES WRITING CONTEST
Deadline: Postmarked or emailed by September 30, 2025
Guidelines:
Write about a difficult experience in your life, how you overcame this obstacle, and how you were changed by it. Winning stories will be chosen for originality and creative writing style.
Stories should not exceed 5,000 words (double-spaced, 12 point font).
Your name, address, email, phone and title of work should appear on the first page. Enclose the reading fee of $30/$25 Workshop members per entry, or pay online. Multiple entries are accepted.
Emailed submissions in Word Doc may be sent to [email protected], with "Hard Times Contest" in the subject. Pay the entry fee here: paypal.me/twwoa
ANNUAL MEMOIRS COMPETITION
Deadline: Postmarked or emailed by Dec. 30, 2025
Guidelines:
Submit a memoir of 5,000 words or less. Pages should be paper clipped, with your name, address, email, phone and title of work on the first page. Double-space, and use 12 point font.
The entry fee is $30/$25 Members per memoir. Multiple entries are accepted. Emailed submissions may be sent in Word doc to [email protected], with “Memoirs Contest” in the subject.
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How to submit an entry:
Online:
By mail:
- Email a Microsoft Word document of your entry to [email protected] with "Name of contest" in the subject line.
- Pay the entry fee online at our Registration Page. Include your name, title of work, address, email, and name of contest.
- The judges' comments will be emailed to you.
By mail:
- Enclose your submission and a SASE (self-sealing self-addressed stamped envelope) for judges' critique.
- Make check or money order payable to The Writers’ Workshop, and mail to: [Name of contest], The Writers' Workshop, 387 Beaucatcher Rd., Asheville NC 28805.
- You can also pay the entry fee online at our Registration Page. Include your name, title of work, address, email, and name of contest.
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