Department of English & Visual Art

Creative Writing Contest

Attention high school students! Submit original creative work for a chance to participate in a college writing workshop, give a public reading, and receive an award!

Instructions for Participating

By October 15, 2026:

Click on 'Register Now!' below to submit one or both of the following:

The Letter You Never Sent: Write a 2000-word true story framed as a letter to a specific person in your life—a parent, a friend, a teacher, a fictional character on TV, or even a past version of yourself—telling them the absolute truth about a shared experience that you couldn't find the words to say at the time. Explore how that unspoken moment shaped who you are today.

An Ode to an Object: Write an original poem of 24 lines, maximum, that is an ode to a tangible object (i.e., socks, the moon, your brother's baseball bat, ballet slippers, a tree in your yard, french fries, grass...). Include a title.

Register Now!

What to Expect After Submitting Your Work

Late October and Early November:

Submissions will be judged by Westminster faculty and students. Judges will evaluate each submission on its ability to avoid cliché and make its subject seen, heard, and felt. On or before November 1, the top three winners in each genre will be noti[ied via email from english@westminster.edu. Authors of the top three scoring pieces in each genre will be invited to join us for the following events on campus:

November 19, 2026:

4:00 p.m.: Creative Writing Workshop for contest finalists, led by faculty and advanced Westminster students

6:00 p.m.: Celebration of Student Writing: contest finalists will read their work alongside Westminster students. First-place winners in each genre will receive the James Ashbrook Perkins Creative Writing Award.

In Memoriam

Dr. James Ashbrook Perkins taught English, writing, and public relations at Westminster College from 1973 until his retirement in 2008. During that time, he served as department chair, won the Distinguished Faculty Award, earned four NEH fellowships, was a Visiting Fulbright Professor in Korea, and published widely as a poet, short ciction writer, and literary critic.

Questions? Reach out to Dr. Kristianne Kalata, English Department Chair, at kalatak@westminster.edu