Unleash Your Creativity: Enter the “Why Summerville” Creative Writing Competition!

Are you a writer with a story to tell, a poet with words that inspire or an essayist with a powerful message to share? The Summerville Journal Scene is thrilled to announce an exciting writing competition in partnership with Summerville DREAM and Main Street Reads. This is your chance to showcase your talent and be celebrated in the heart of Summerville’s literary community!

Competition Details

Writers of all ages are invited to participate, with categories designed to highlight every stage of creativity:

Youth Under 12: FREE ENTRY

  • Essay – up to 500 words
  • Fiction – up to 500 words
  • Poetry – single poem

Prizes: 1st $75, 2nd $50, 3rd $25

Teen 13-18: $5 ENTRY

  • Essay – up to 1,000 words
  • Fiction – up to 1,000 words
  • Poetry – single poem

Prizes: 1st $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50

Adult 19 and Up: $10 ENTRY

  • Essay – up to 1,000 words
  • Fiction – up to 1,500 words
  • Poetry – single poem

Prizes: 1st $150, 2nd $100, 3rd $75

The theme is “Why Summerville,” and we’ll share winning works with the community in a variety of ways, including an appearance in the Summerville Journal Scene!

Submissions will be judged by a panel of literary enthusiasts and local influencers, with winners to be revealed in a special ceremony during the Summerville Book Festival on Feb. 15, 2025.

Why Enter?

This competition is more than just a chance to win — it’s an opportunity to share your voice, connect with fellow writers, and gain recognition for your creative work. Winners in each category will receive prizes, be featured in the Summerville Journal Scene, and enjoy a moment in the spotlight at the festival.

How to Enter

The competition is for previously unpublished work only. Manuscripts must be submitted by snail mail ONLY.

Each entry should consist of two documents. The first document is a contact page with author’s name, address, e-mail address and phone number, category, title of manuscript, and number of words. The second document is the actual entry, which consists of a title page with title and category, This actual entry must have no author identifying information on it, as entries are read blind. Pages of the entry attachment should be numbered if more than one page in length. NOTE: No email copy of manuscripts are permitted.

A hard copy of your entry, typed, and including title page with contact info (name, address, email address and phone) and the appropriate fee must be submitted not later than January 27th by mail to:

Summerville Journal Scene
Creative Writing Competition
103 Journal Alley
Summerville, SC 29483

Each entry form must be accompanied by cash, a check drawn on a U. S. bank, or a U.S. money order made out to The Summerville Journal Scene. We are unable to accept credit cards for entry fees at this time.

Manuscript Requirements

All manuscripts entered must be unpublished works of fiction, non-fiction or poetry as of postmarked date of entry. 

Publication Rights

Submission of entry and required competition entry form constitutes the author’s contractual obligation for publication rights of finalists (top three in each category) to potentially appear in the Summerville Journal Scene and/or online at https://www.postandcourier.com/journal-scene/ – limited to first publication print AND digital rights only.

Entry Fees

Fees are FREE to Under 12 categories, $5 in the 13-18 teen categories and $10 in the adult categories, collected to offset administrative costs of the competition and judges.

Judging

Manuscripts are submitted blind for judging by local professionals in the fields of editing, publishing, writing, education and journalism.

Announcements

We will announce winners publicly at the Summerville Book Festival on February 15th. Winners will be alerted by Wednesday, February 5, 2025. 

Questions?

Email only: broberts@journalscene.com or mainstreetreads@gmail.com 

Remember!

Don’t forget to send your check and entry together, and to keep the contact information on the contact page only. Drop Dead Deadline for postmarking your entries is Monday, January 27th, 2025.