WNBA Writing Contest 

The 2020 WNBA Writing Contest is now open for submissions!

Submissions are accepted SEPTEMBER 1, 2020 through DECEMBER 1, 2020. 

Winners

Winners will be announced in March 2021 on the Women's National Book Association's website. 

Winners will receive a cash prize and the winning entries will be published in The Bookwoman Newsletter, the national publication of the WNBA, and on the WNBA website.

After winners are announced and awarded, the WNBA will publish an anthology of past winning entries. Every few years, a new anthology will be published.   

Categories

The contest accepts entries from these four categories:

FICTION: 3,000 words maximum. 

CREATIVE NONFICTION: 2,500 words maximum.

• Includes memoir, personal essay and commentary. 

FLASH PROSE: 750 words maximum. 

• May submit fiction or creative nonfiction.

POETRY: 3–5 pages maximum

No theme is required in any category.

View Full Guidelines

Basic Guidelines

The WNBA Writing Contest is open to everyone ages 18 years or older writing in English. 

International submissions are welcome if the author is able to accept the winning prize in US dollars.

All WNBA members in good standing receive a 25% discount on submission fees.

You may submit more than one entry, but each entry requires a separate fee and entry form.

Simultaneous submissions are acceptable. If your work is accepted elsewhere, please inform Andrea Auten, the contest chair, at contest@wnba-books.org. 

Previously published work will be accepted as long as the publisher allows for the work to be reprinted/redistributed. If your work is accepted elsewhere, please inform Andrea Auten, the contest chair, at contest@wnba-books.org. 

Submissions

The WNBA Writing Contest uses an anonymous review system. Please do not include your name, address, or contact information on your entry. This information will be collected when you fill out the submissions form.

 Acceptable document formats are:

• .docx (Word 2007 to present)
• .doc (Word 2003 or earlier)
• .rtf (Rich Text Format)
• .pdf (PDF)

To Enter

Select a category: fiction, creative nonfiction, flash prose, poetry. 

Select a type of entry: WNBA member or nonmember.

Fill out the form, and pay the fee.

To Get the WNBA Member Discount

To qualify for the WNBA member discount, you must be a current member of the Women's National Book Association, which means you have paid for the 2020/2021 membership year that began in June 2020.  

If you are not a member, we welcome new members! 

We have chapters across the United States. If there isn't a chapter near you, you may join as a Network Member, which includes all of the benefits that the national organization offers.

If you need to renew, contact your chapter or renew on our website.

Click to join or renew!

Thank you for entering the WNBA Writing Contest. We can't wait to read your submissions!

Note: When you submit an entry, you are contenting to receiving email marketing from the WNBA. You may opt-out at any time.