Contest
SJVW is pleased to announce it will host a contest for prose and poetry during the even years beginning 2024. The contest is open to all active members in all branches of the California Writers Club. Winning entries will receive a cash prize of $100 and are automatically accepted into the next SJVW anthology in addition to being published on the SJVW website. Up to two honorable mentions will be selected with their names published on the website. Note: the contest committee reserves the right not to designate a winner in any of the categories for this contest.
Before submitting, please read over the following guidelines carefully. The contest
committee may reject or send back any submission that does not follow the
guidelines. Once you are ready to submit, please use the submission form
below and upload your document as indicated. We do not accept
submissions any other way. Membership in a branch of the CWC will be verified.
Guidelines
Please follow each and every guideline carefully.
1. The contest is open to all active members of any branch of the CWC. However, members of the contest committee and members of the SJVW Board are ineligible for participation.
2. Only unpublished and original work is accepted. We do not accept AI generated content.
3. Submissions must fit into one of three categories: prose fiction, prose memoir, poetry.
4. For prose fiction and memoir, word limit is 2,500. Submission must be double spaced, pages numbered, and use 12pt Times New Roman font. Although judging will be blind, we ask that you include your name and email address on the first page, which will be removed prior to being sent to judges.
5. For poetry, you may submit up to three poems but not more than five pages total. Single space is accepted, 12pt Times New Roman font. Each poem must start on a new page. Although judging will be blind, we ask that you include your name and email address on the first page, which will be removed prior to being sent to judges.
6. Only one submission per person and in only one category (for example, you may not submit to both prose fiction and poetry).
7. Please label your submission file in the following way: last name - genre- short title. Examples: Smith-fiction-The Dead; Jones-poetry-Birds.
8. Deadline for submission is June 1 at 5:00 p.m. There are no late submissions.
Winners will be notified in early September with public announcements posted in early October.
Please note that judges and committee members do not provide feedback on submissions at the conclusion of the judging of entries. If you have any questions about the contest, contact the committee chair by clicking here.
There is a nominal submission fee of $5.00 to help defray costs. When you hit the submit button, you will be directed to payment.
Many thanks for your participation in the SJVW contest!