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MWA Writing Contest Announcements
About Maryland Writers’ Associations Annual Writing Contests
Over the last several years, MWA has established a contest schedule rotating through novels, short fiction/creative non-fiction, and poetry. We advertise our writing contests through email and on both our main page and our sliding photo banner. You can also check with your local chapter to find out more information about upcoming contests or past published works from contests.To ensure you receive information about our upcoming writing contests, check that you are subscribed to our email or ensure your email hasn't blocked us as a sender!
Current Writing Contests
2025 MWA Short Story Contest
Twisted Myths and Legends!
Any myth, or any legend, add a twist (or two), submit.
The first place story will receive a $50 prize and publication in the Twisted Myths and Legends! anthology.
Submission instructions:
- Submit in 12-point Times New Roman font, black type only.
- Layout: 1-inch margins on top, bottom, left and right; paragraph indents, 1/4” inch.
- Put your name, address, email and phone number at the top left of your submission.
- No extra line between paragraphs; single space between periods and new sentences.
- Work created wholly or in part by AI is not eligible.
Submission qualifications:
- You must be a current MWA member to be eligible.
- One submission per member.
- Authors retain all rights except First Electronic Right.
- Short stories previously published, including in Pen In Hand, are not eligible.
- MWA will be held harmless in case of unauthorized reproduction.
Previous MWA Writing Contests
2024 MWA NOVEL contest
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Main Stream / Literary Fiction - Tara Bandes, aka Olivia Sparrow, with Secret of the Sassafras
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Mystery / Suspense / Thriller / Action / Adventure - Mark Willen with The Question is Murder
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Romance / Historical - Diane Helentjaris with The Indenture of Ivy O'Neill
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Science Fiction / Fantasy / Speculative - Dale E. Lehman with The Belt
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Young Adult - Christine Fallert Kessides with Magda, Standing
2023 MWA Poetry contest
- 1st Place: Anne Marie Wells, Cherimoya
- 2nd Place: Barbara Morrison, Mooring Line
- 3rd Place: Elayne Bond Hyman, Creating Catoctin SlaveSpeak
- 3rd Place: Sarah Merrow, This Fragile Nest
- 3rd 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 ContestWinners:
- 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
