It’s Contest Time!
Here is a complete list of 2026 WCCW Conference Writing Contests. This year we offer 32 contests covering a variety of topics and genres. Special thanks to all contest sponsors! (Here’s an Entry Form.)
Here are the Details…
Contest deadline is April 24, 2026. Entries needed to be postmarked by this date.
Each contest comes with a cash award. The amount of the award is listed with each contest.
Open to everyone. You don’t have to be a WCCW member to enter any of our writing contests. Neither do you have to attend the Writers Conference to participate.
Winners will be announced at the 31st Annual White County Creative Writers Conference, to be held in 2026 in Searcy AR. Winners not at the conference will be notified by mail.
How to Enter a Contest
1. Write your contest entry.
2. Format the pages according to these formatting guidelines, then print the pages.
VIEW A SAMPLE ENTRY | VIEW A SAMPLE COVER SHEET
3. Print the Contest Entry Form and fill it out.
4. Total your entry fees and make one check payable to White County Creative Writers.
Mail entries and fees to:
1. WCCW INSPIRATION AWARD
Fiction or Nonfiction. Clean Christian story with an inspirational theme. 2500 words max.
$75/$50/$25
Sponsor: White County Creative Writers
2. ACES & EIGHTS AWARD
Traditional Western involving a saloon and a card game. 2000 words max.
$75/$50/$25
Sponsor: BCC Freight Haulers
3. DOUBLE-UP
Personal Essay, any subject, 800 words maximum, accompanied by an 8-line poem, any form, on the same subject. Please keep it clean.
$50/$30/$20 + 3 hms @ $10 each
Sponsor: Gayle Glass
4. TAKING A CHANCE
Any Genre fiction or nonfiction. Subject: A Chance Taken. Tell us about a chance you (or someone else) took. 500-1500 words.
$50/$35/$15
Sponsor: The Penpoint Writer’s Group
5. ROBERTS FAMILY ARK
Short Story, any genre. Subject: A Southern Thanksgiving With a Militant Vegan. 3000 words max.
$50/$30/$20
Sponsor: Roberts Family Ark
6. GRANNY PREWITT AWARD
Historical Fiction/Memoir. Humorous family story set before 1975. 1000-1500 words.
$50/$30/$20
Sponsor: Anthony Wood
7. DAVID ROPER MEMORIAL CONTEST
Children’s Story, must include a magician. 700 words max.
$50/$30/$20
Sponsor: Roberts Family Ark
8. TIC TAC TOE KILLER: X Marks the Spot.
Crime Mystery, 1200 words max.
$50/$30/$20
Sponsor: Brenda Iannacone
9. AM I REALLY A ROBOT?
Fiction. Children’s Story for ages 6-8. Subject: Little girl teased about being a robot. Show human emotions in robotic perspective. Must use the word “fantastical” in the story. 500-1000 words.
$100/$50/$25
Sponsor: Write On!
10. TEN MINUTE COMEDY
Drama – One act play. Subject: Parent to child conversation. 15 pages max.
$50/$30/$20
Sponsor: Clouse Literary Arts & Theater
11. PAWPRINTS ON THE HEART
Poetry, any style. Subject; a pet who has touched your heart. 24 lines max.
$50/$30/$20
Sponsor: Roberts Family Ark
12. LOVE ACROSS TIME
Romance. Write a story about a modern-day person who travels back in time and falls in love with a famous or historical figure. 2000 words max.
$30/$20/$10
Sponsor: Fundraising Training Academy
13. NO CELL PHONES ALLOWED
Fiction. Modern-day story with no mention of cell phones. Setting is present day USA; No mention of a single cell phone at all. A large portion of story (50%+) must take place in populated areas. However, characters may be alone or in unpopulated areas, such as a wilderness, in other parts of the story. 2500-5000 words. PG-PG13.
One Prize: $126
Sponsor: Misty Posey Music
14. AN APPLE STORY
Handwritten Fiction. Character learns to grow apples or teaches another. Any time period. May grow apples by seed, root, grafting, or any other natural propagation method. Include some details on the process used. Must be handwritten, no copy/paste or spell check, including your drafts. 8-19 pages college rule/10-23 pages wide rule.
$70/$35/$20
Sponsor: Misty Posey Music
15. SHOW ME A MYSTERY
Investigate a mysterious disappearance. Is it murder? Or did your subject just plan a disappearance to escape their current situation? You must resolve the mystery by the end of the story. 3000 words max.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Ellen Withers
16. SOLANDER PRESS PITCH ME AWARD
Fiction (all genres except erotica) Pitch a book idea in 300 words or less. Please title your unpublished book idea and write a pitch. What makes your book unique? (Book may be under contract, but must be unpublished by time of entry.)
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Solander Press
17. LOVE CONNECTION
Paranormal Romance. A love story that’s out of this world. 2000 words max.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: The Bookish Emporium of Arkansas
18. SING ALONG
New words to an old song. Write alternate lyrics to the tune of “On Top of Old Smokey.” 4–12 lines.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Dot Hatfield
19. DRABBLE FOR THE MONEY
Any Genre. Story told in exactly 100 words. Title does not count toward limit.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Don Money
20. DEL GARRETT’S GIMME THE CREEPS AWARD
Psychological Horror (No slashers) Subject: Author’s Choice. Character driven, ordinary people caught up in unexpected events. 2500-5000 words.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Del Garrett
21. FIRST DATE DISASTERS
A first date ends in an unexpected way. Disaster is relative. Can be true or imagined, as long as it’s entertaining. 1000-1500 words.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Little Red Writing Hood
22. BLOW ME AWAY
Any Genre. Fictional short story with a tornado. No gore. The tornado does not have to be the focus of the story, but it needs to be an important part. 1500-2200 words.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Renee LaViness
23. WELL THAT WORKED…ALMOST…OR DID IT?
Fiction or Non-fiction. You made a plan, followed the plan, but it did not turn out as planned. Could be for better or worse. 1000-1500 words.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Dr. Rebecca Foster
24. ARTS & CRACKERS PROSE AWARD
Any Genre. The Gyro’s Journey. Tell the story of a food item’s Uber Eats (or similar) journey. Keep it kid-friendly. Think “The Hero’s Journey.” 700-1000 words.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Arts & Crackers
25. FANTASY FOUR CONTEST
Fantasy Short Story. Must include the words: blowing, brown, boisterous, and boysenberry. Brief critique given if requested on first page of story. 2500 words max.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Carol Hodges
26. HERE BE DRAGONS
Any Genre. Write a story and include a dragon as an essential component or character involved. 2500 words max.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Lindsey’s Plumbing Inc.
27. HOW-TO CONTEST
Self-help. How to do something. Anything from building a rocket to boiling water to finding inner peace—tell us step-by-step how to get it done. 1000 words max.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Steve May
28. SCARS
Creative Nonfiction/Memoir. Write about scars—real, imagined, on the body, on the land, on the reputation. 2500 words max.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Harding University English Dept
29. MURDERERS ANONYMOUS
Murder Thriller. Story about a murder. Story must start with: “Hi. My name is (character’s name) and I’m a murderer.” Must be written first person and include detailed and emotional descriptions. 3000-4000 words.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Tony Franklin
30. WHODUNNIT? AWARD
Mystery. Teenage sleuth(s) solve an age-appropriate mystery. (Think Nancy Drew or the Hardy Boys.) 2500 words max.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Gary Breezeel
31. GIN CREEK AWARD
Crown Cinquain, Subject: An animal. 25 lines. See poemanalysis.com for definition.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Gin Creek Poets
32. THE MOTHERS AWARD
Historical Fiction. Story featuring a strong mother character. 1500 words max.
$25/$15/$10
Sponsor: Ron & Julia Zellner
Postmark Deadline: April 24, 2026