The SouthWest Writers (SWW) annual writing competition is now open for submissions.
All writers, new and experienced, are welcome to enter the contest.
Contestants don’t have to be members of SWW or live in the Southwest to participate.
First-, second-, and third-place winners will be awarded monetary prizes and the chance for publication in the 2026 contest anthology By Human Hands.
The submission window closes at midnight on June 8, 2026. Fees vary depending on submission date.
This year’s contest offers eighteen writing categories of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, plus one for short screenplay:
◆ Fiction
- Opening Chapter of an unpublished novel/novella (three subcategories)
- Short Story (six subcategories including Young Reader/Middle Grade and Young Adult)
- Flash Fiction
◆ Nonfiction
- Opening Chapter of an unpublished book (two subcategories)
- Short Memoir, Article/Essay
◆ Poetry (three categories)
◆ Short Screenplay
Go to the Contest Page for more details and to enter the contest.
Good luck!
SouthWest Writers is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization devoted to helping both published and unpublished writers improve their craft and further their careers. In 2026, SWW celebrates forty-two years dedicated to this goal.
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