Writers’ Guild of Acadiana announces high school creative writing contest

The Writers’ Guild of Acadiana (WGA) is once again sponsoring its High School Creative Writing Contest (HSCWC) for Acadiana area high school students in grades nine to 12.

This will be the 22nd year the group has sponsored the competition.

Monetary prizes will be given to the first, second and third place winners in each of the contest categories.

The first place winners also will be guests at the WGA monthly meeting to be held on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at Barnes & Noble in Lafayette. 

Contest Guidelines

Who: All area high school students (grades nine-12)

Categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction and Poetry. Note: A contestant can enter only one category and submit only one entry in that category.

Prizes: First prize – $75; second prize – $50; and third prize – $25.

Fee: None.

Deadline: Entries must be postmarked not later than March 24, 2015.

Mail entries to Writers’ Guild of Acadiana, P.O. Box 51532, Lafayette, 70505. The outside of the envelope should be marked “Contest Entry.”

All works submitted must be original creations by the contestant and will be judged on their respective merits and in conformity with the below requirements.

Entries must be typed on 8 1/2- by 11-inch white paper and must have a separate cover sheet identifying the category entered; the title of the entry; and the author’s name, address, phone number, school name and grade. The entry itself must show only the title and the work. 

No icons or decorations are allowed on the work or the cover sheet. 

Work must be typed with 10- or 12-point regular font such as Courier or Times New Roman. No italics, bold, etc., are allowed 

Short Story Category: Fiction should not exceed 2,500 words or ten double-spaced pages with a minimum one-inch margin on each side, as well as the top and bottom.

Non- Fiction Category: This category is limited to family history and/or environmental experiences. Entries are not to exceed five double-spaced pages.

Poetry Category: Entries are not to exceed forty lines, single spaced, with double spaces only to separate stanzas of the poem, if any. No Haiku will be accepted in this category.

The top three winners and their schools will be notified by phone and letter no later than April 21, 2015. 

For more information or contest questions, contact Contest Chairman, Sudie Landry, 337-315-1147.