Contests

MWA Writing Contest Announcements 

About Maryland Writers’ Association Annual Writing Contests

Over the last several years, MWA has established a contest schedule rotating through novels, short fiction/creative non-fiction, and poetry. Our intention is to maintain this schedule going forward. 

There are no active contests at this time. Please check this page for future updates.

Previous MWA Writing Contests

2024 MWA NOVEL contest

• Main Stream / Literary Fiction - Tara Bandes, aka Olivia Sparrow, with Secret of the Sassafras 
• Mystery / Suspense / Thriller / Action / Adventure - Mark Willen with The Question is Murder
• Romance / Historical - Diane Helentjaris with The Indenture of Ivy O'Neill
• Science Fiction / Fantasy / Speculative - Dale E. Lehman with The Belt
• Young Adult - Christine Fallert Kessides with Magda, Standing

2023 MWA Poetry contest

• 1^st Place: Anne Marie Wells, Cherimoya
• 2^nd Place: Barbara Morrison, Mooring Line
• 3^rd Place: Elayne Bond Hyman, Creating Catoctin SlaveSpeak
• 3^rd Place: Sarah Merrow, This Fragile Nest
• 3^rd Place: Megan Madramootoo, On the Blackest Magic
• Honorable Mention: Michael Bornemann, My Hidden Wife
• Honorable Mention: Nancy Joie Wilkie, Perfect Prayers
• Honorable Mention: Joni Youse, Escaping My Cell
• Honorable Mention: Patrick McGann, Touch
• Honorable Mention: Salisa Grant, Second Hand Dreams
• Honorable Mention: Robin Stevens Payes, Learning Curves

2022 MWA Short story contest

• Jennifer Myers, Parcel 28
• Michael Norton, The Invisible Harp
• Katherine White, The Alhambra
• Claudine Marcin, The Stairs
• Edward McSweegan, The Bookshop

The winning stories and additional selections are published in the MWA anthology, CAPTION THIS!, available on Amazon.com. 

2021 memorial scholarship essay contest 

• Gregory May, Serious Silliness

This year's contest was in honor of MWA Board Member Janet Ruck

2021 MWA Novel Contest

• Mainstream/ Literary Fiction: Adriane Brown with The Cafe on Dream Street
• Mystery / Suspense / Thriller / Action / Adventure: John Everet with No Slave to Reason
• Romance / Historical: Karen McIntyre with Jake
• Science Fiction / Fantasy / Speculative: Andrew McDowell with Mystical Greenwood
• Young Adult: Amy Bernstein with Fran, the second time around

2020 MWA Poetry Contest

• First Place: John O’Dell, After Defibrillation
• Second Place: Marc Drexler, Baltimore 1977
• Third Place: John O’Dell, For Tom Who Says He’s Slipping
• Honorable Mention: Meg Kuyatt, Gambrills Elegy
• Honorable Mention: Michael Ratcliffe, After Sterling
  
  

The winning poems and additional selections are published in the MWA anthology, Maryland in Poetry, available on Amazon.com. 

2019 MWA 30th Anniversary Short Fiction & Creative Non-Fiction Contest

• The 30 winning submissions have been collected into an anthology titled 30 Ways to Love Maryland.
  
  
  

2018 MWA Novel Contest

Winners: 

• Historical Fiction: The Eagle and the Dragon by Lewis McIntyre
• Mainstream/Literary: Hawke's Return by Mark Willen
• Mystery/Thriller: Abandoned Homes: Vietnam Revenge Murders by Frank Hopkins
• Science Fiction/Fantasy/Speculative Fiction: The House on Moss Swamp Road by M.J. Patrick
  
  

2017 MWA Novel Contest

Winners:

• Historical:  Provenance by Donna Drew Sawyer
• Mystery / Thriller: Auburn Ride by David Stever
• Science Fiction / Fantasy / Speculative Fiction: The Enchanted Dagger by Vonnie Winslow Crist
• Literary / Mainstream: A Hundred Veils by Rea Keech
  
  
  

MWA Novel Contests

• 2016 Novel Contest Winners
• 2012 Writing Contest Winners
• 2011 Novel Contest Winners
• 2010 Novel Contest Winners
• 2009 Novel Contest Winners
• 2008 Novel Contest Winners
• 2007 Novel Contest Winners
• 2006 Novel Contest Winners
  
  
  

MWA Short Works Contests

• 2016 Short Works Contest Winners
• 2011 Short Works Contest Winners
  
• 2010 Short Works Contest Winners
  
• 2009 Short Works Contest Winners
  
• 2008 Short Works Contest Winners
  
• 2007 Short Works Contest Winners
  
• 2006 Short Works Contest Winners