Writer’s Digest 2009 Writing Competition

January 19th, 2009 Posted in Writing Contests

Over the weekend I received an announcement launching the Writer’s Digest 78th Annual Writing Competition. If you’re searching for a legitimate writing contest, this one is for you!

Writer’s Digest is looking for submissions in each of 10 categories:

  • Inspirational Writing (Spiritual/Religious)

  • Memoirs/Personal Essay

  • Magazine Feature Article

  • Genre Short Story (Mystery, Romance, etc.)

  • Mainstream/Literary Short Story

  • Rhyming Poetry

  • Non-rhyming poetry

  • Stage Play

  • Television/Movie Script

  • Children’s/Young Adult Fiction

There are thousands of dollars in cash prizes available, but the kicker is the grand prize itself. What is it, you ask? The grand prize is $3,000 cash AND a trip to New York City. But this isn’t just any trip to New York City. It’s a trip during which a Writer’s Digest editor will take you to visit with four different editors or literary agents so you can promote your completed manuscript. Now that’s what I call getting your foot in the door! Grand prize winners will also be presented with a Diamond Publishing Package sponsored by Outskirts Press.

There are dozens of other prizes available as well. There are first through tenth place winners in each category and writers up to 100th place are acknowledged with a certificate of accomplishment.

You’d better start polishing up, finishing, or writing those manuscripts. The deadline for entries to the competition is May 15, 2009. Check out the Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition page for more details on the rules and how to submit your manuscript.

Good luck!

Other great freelance writing resources on the web:


  • Hell Or High Water: Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition
  • - The Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition is now open. Categories accepting submissions include:. - Inspirational Writing. - Memoirs/Personal Essay. - Magazine Feature Article. - Genre Short Story. - Mainstream/Literary Short Story …

  • Your Story | ABC Writers Network
  • - Every other month, Writer’s Digest presents a creative challenge for fun and prizes. We’ll provide a short, open-ended prompt. In turn, you’ll submit a short.

  • The Writing Jobs | Why You Should Enter Contests
  • - It was the Writer’s Digest contest. I was very naive at the time, not understanding that there would be thousands upon thousands of entries. I had grossly underestimated what I was up against. But truth be known, if I had seen a contest …

Leave a Reply