Women Writing the West High School Writing Contest

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: October 1, 2022

Welcome to the Women Writing the West High School Writing Contest! Please read the guidelines carefully so that your entry will meet the necessary criteria. 

Any student in grades 9 through 12 is eligible to enter this contest. You may enter one story, nonfiction or journalism essay, or poem/song per year. There is a $10 nonrefundable fee for each entry.*

Guidelines:

  1. Each entry must be an original unpublished work by the student. Publishing does include posting on blogs, social media, or in school newsletters. 
  2. Each entry must feature a female protagonist or speak from a female point of view and be set in the American West. For the purposes of this competition, the American West is defined as all of North America west of the Mississippi River (including Alaska and Hawaii).
  3. Short fiction and nonfiction should be a maximum of 2,000 words. Poems should be a maximum of 25 lines (or 3 haiku poems). Songs should be a maximum of 2 verses and a chorus (a bridge is optional).
  4. Each piece must be formatted according to Standard Format (LINK TO FORMAT PAGE]. If your piece is not formatted correctly, it will be disqualified, so please read carefully.
  5. Questions should be e-mailed to the Contest Coordinator at CONTESTEMAIL@WWW.org [WHATEVER OUR EMAIL ADDRESS WILL BE]
  6. You will receive email confirmation of your submission. If you do not hear from us within one week, please email the Contest Coordinator.

Judging:

  1. Each contest entry will be read by contest screeners to check for proper formatting, originality, and preliminary scoring according to the contest guidelines. The highest scoring entries will then be given to the contest judges, who will decide on first place, second place, and honorable mention.
  2. The top 5 finalists in each area will be notified and asked to submit a short (30-second) video telling about themselves and their work. These will be shown at the Women Writing the West Conference in October, with the announcements of our contest winners. 
  3. Winners will be notified by HOW WERE WE GOING TO NOTIFY THE WINNERS AGAIN? EMAIL OR ZOOM MEETING?? DO THE KIDS GET TO COME TO THE CONFERENCE IF THEY CAN AFFORD IT? WILL THEY NEED TO BRING A PARENT ALONG? 

Prizes:

Winners will be announced at the WWW Annual Conference.

First Place in each category will receive a $50 prize, a certificate, and publication on the Women Writing the West website.

Second Place in each category will receive a $25 prize, a certificate, and publication on the Women Writing the West website

Honorable Mention in each category will receive a $10 prize, a certificate, and publication on the Women Writing the West website.

Best of luck to you all and we hope to see another entry from you next year!

*Any student who cannot afford the entry fee should have their teacher email the Contest Coordinator for scholarship opportunities.