Contest Rules and Submission Guidelines
Eligibility:
- With the few exceptions noted on the contest page, our contests are open to all CWC members and to non-members over the age of 18 who reside in or attend school in North or South Carolina. Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. Members of the CWC Executive Board and the Contest Chairs are not allowed to enter. The previous year’s winners (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) in each of our contests are not allowed to enter the same contest in the following year. They are free, however, to enter in other genres.
- Only one entry per contest is allowed.
- By submitting to any of our contests, you attest that the work is original and unpublished. "Publication" means not only print, but digital media: Facebook, Substack and any other website.
- We allow simultaneous submissions. Should your work win a contest or be accepted for publication elsewhere, it is your responsibility to notify us so that it can be withdrawn from consideration here. Please remember that entry fees are not refundable.
- We do not allow AI-generated works. All submission are screened using public tools. Such work will be disqualified without a reply or explanation. Consider screening your work before submitting it.
Entry Fee/Submission Process:
- The entry fee for each contest is $15 for members, $20 for non-members.
- Entry fees for submissions that do not meet the eligibility requirements are not refundable. We will work with you if you make a mistake, but please read the requirements closely.
- The “Submit” button for any of our contests will open Submittable, the online submissions management software we use to accept entries. We do not accept entries via any other method. Entry fees must be paid through Submittable at the time of your entry.
- Submittable asks you for the title of your work. In the cover letter box applicable box please include your name, phone number, active email address, and mailing address.
Prizes:
- First Place: $125 Second Place: $75 Third Place: $50
- Winners will be recognized, and awards presented at the monthly meeting of the CWC specified for each contest. Each winner will be allowed 5 minutes to read from their work.
Deadlines:
- Each of our contests has a different deadline. Please see the description of the contest you plan to enter.
MANUSCRIPT FORMAT:
- Do not include any identifying information on your manuscript. This includes name, address, phone number, website, email address, etc.
- Prose entries must use the standard industry format: 12 pt. Times New Roman, double-spaced, 1-inch margins, left-justified.
- The pages of your manuscript should be numbered.
- Title and word count (or lines of poetry) must appear in the upper-left-hand corner of the first page of the manuscript.
- Poetry may be single-spaced; margins for poetry are “open style.”
- For both prose and poetry, white background only: no color, no patterns, no photos.
Questions about submissions should be sent to: Susan Bulloch, sbullochauthor@gmail.com, or CWC President Barbara "Bay" Yager, President@charlottewriters.org.
- This contest is open to all CWC members and to non-members 18 years and over living or attending school in North & South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia.
- Contest is for poetry of fewer than 50 lines; haiku excluded.
- Entries must be original and unpublished.
- Multiple entries are NOT allowed. Choose your best poem to submit.
- Entry fee is $15 for CWC members, $20 for non members
- Prizes: First Place: $125, Second Place: $75, Third Place: $50
- Please follow guidelines in General Manuscript Requirements, Eligibility & Submission Information.
You must follow the formatting guidelines in General Manuscript Requirements, Eligibility & Submission Information.
- 12 pt. Times New Roman.
- Number pages if needed.
- Include title and line count in the upper left corner.
- Poetry may be single-spaced; margins for poetry are “open style.”
- Use only a white background: no color, no patterns, no photos.
Prizes will be awarded in April at the CWC general meeting.
ELIGIBILITY:
- Stories can be in any fiction genre and must be between 500 and 1,000 words.
- The contest is open to all students (public school, private school, homeschooled, etc.) in grades 5-12 in the Charlotte metropolitan area.
- The previous year’s winners (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) in each of our contests are not allowed to enter the same contest in the following year.
- Only one entry per contest is allowed.
- By submitting to this contest, you attest that the work is original and unpublished.
- We do not accept AI-generated work.
SUBMISSION PROCESS:
- The “Submit” button will open Submittable, the online submissions management software we use to accept entries. We do not accept entries sent via email, U.S Mail, or any similar service.
- Submittable will ask you for the title of your work and a cover letter. Please be sure to include your name, phone number, email address, and mailing address.
PRIZES:
- First Place: $125 Second Place: $75 Third Place: $50
- The top 5 finalists in each category will receive one-year free membership to the Charlotte Writers Club.
- Winners will be recognized, and awards presented at the March meeting of the Charlotte Writers Club on Tuesday, March 17th. Each winner will be allowed five minutes to read from their work.
DEADLINES:
- JANUARY 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM
MANUSCRIPT FORMAT:
- Do not include any identifying information on your manuscript. This includes name, address, phone number, website, email address, etc.
- Entries must use the standard industry format: 12 pt. Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins and left-justified. The pages of your manuscript should be numbered. White background only: no color, no patterns, no photos.
- Title and word count must appear in the upper-left hand corner of the first page of the manuscript.
Questions about submissions should be sent to: Contest Chair
ELIGIBILITY:
- Stories can be in any fiction genre and must be between 500 and 1,000 words.
- The contest is open to all students (public school, private school, homeschooled, etc.) in grades 5-12 in the Charlotte metropolitan area.
- The previous year’s winners (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place) in each of our contests are not allowed to enter the same contest in the following year.
- Only one entry per contest is allowed.
- By submitting to this contest, you attest that the work is original and unpublished.
- We do not accept AI-generated work.
SUBMISSION PROCESS:
- The “Submit” button will open Submittable, the online submissions management software we use to accept entries. We do not accept entries sent via email, U.S Mail, or any similar service.
- Submittable will ask you for the title of your work and a cover letter. Please be sure to include your name, phone number, email address, and mailing address.
PRIZES:
- First Place: $125 Second Place: $75 Third Place: $50
- The top 5 finalists in each category will receive one-year free membership to the Charlotte Writers Club.
- Winners will be recognized, and awards presented at the March meeting of the Charlotte Writers Club on Tuesday, March 17th. Each winner will be allowed five minutes to read from their work.
DEADLINES:
- JANUARY 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM
MANUSCRIPT FORMAT:
- Do not include any identifying information on your manuscript. This includes name, address, phone number, website, email address, etc.
- Entries must use the standard industry format: 12 pt. Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins and left-justified. The pages of your manuscript should be numbered. White background only: no color, no patterns, no photos.
- Title and word count must appear in the upper-left hand corner of the first page of the manuscript.
Questions about submissions should be sent to: Contest Chair
Ends on This opportunity will close after 50 submissions have been received.
Impressions 2026, An Art & Written Word Contest & Exhibit
Join the Charlotte Writers Club and the artists of Southminster for a unique opportunity to interpret and respond to art through poetry or story writing.
This year, we are waiving the contest fee to allow more participation.
Writers who apply to participate will be assigned artwork created by a Southminster resident. This artwork should inspire poetry of a maximum of 25 lines or prose of no more than 300 words. This work is due December 20, 2025. The final art and your creative pieces will be displayed in the Southminster Art Gallery, 8919 Park Road in Charlotte. Awards will be presented at a reception there in early 2026 and announced at the following month's CWC meeting.
Open to Charlotte Writers Club members and all NC and SC residents or students.
Submission Period: November 2 - December 20, 2025
Entry Fee: No Fee
The top three winners receive cash prizes.
Good luck!