GFWC Member Writing Contests
Objective: Encourage members and youth to develop creative writing skills and to recognize their achievements.
Important Note: GFWC now requires a signed waiver for contest entries. You can print the print the waiver from this link: GFWC Contest Waiver (pdf)
Writing Contest Awards
Awards for 2009 Writing Contest
GFWC Writing Contest certificates were presented by Jane Smith, Missouri Creative Arts Chairman, at the 2010 GFWC of Missouri Convention held in Jefferson City May 20-22. GFWC members first place winners also received a $10 check.
Carol Shoener of the GFWC Braymer Study Club received first place for her short story, “The Old Man”, and first place for her poem, “Two Mothers.” Ramona Kanne’s poem, “A Midnight Walk” received second place.
Entries in the Missouri youth writing contest were from these GFWC clubs: Achieving by Reading Club, Lee’s Summit; the Alton Culture Club, the Lathrop Study Club, and the Mexico Women’s Club. Youth winners received prizes from the local clubs. First, second, and third place state winners in each category received a certificate from Missouri GFWC.
Youth entries are placed in categories according to their school grade level. Category one is 1st-2nd-3rd grades; Category two is 4th-5th-6th grades; Category three is 7th-8th-9th grades. Category four is 10th-11th-12th grades. The youth may enter a short story or a poem.
Youth Writing Contest 2009 Winners
Short Story Category One
Lathrop First “My Mom”
Short Story Category Two
Mexico First “The Great Rainbow Catfish”
Mexico Second “A Fairy’s Life”
Lathrop Third “A Special Woman in My Life”
Short Story Category Three
Mexico First “Battle of Cobithume”
Mexico Second “Agent 00Christian”
Lathrop Third “A Special Woman in My Life”
Poetry Category Two
Lee’s Summit First
“Where I Am From”
Lee’s Summit Second “My
Life”
Lee’s Summit Third “I Am
From”
Poetry Category Three
Mexico First “Life”
Lathrop Second “My Mom”
Mexico Third “My Twin
Sisters”
A Challenge to GFWC of Missouri Clubs
Sponsor a 2010 youth writing contest. It is an excellent vehicle to encourage young writers, to give your club a fun educational project, and to get publicity for your GFWC Club.
Contact your elementary, middle, or high school principal, or work with an individual teacher. Talk to them during the summer or early in the fall. Have a definite plan of procedure. Give the teacher a copy of the writing rules. Award small prizes for the top three writers. Have a reception for entrants or winners and their parents. Make it a good experience for all involved.
And, YOU should enter our writing contest. All women have a story to tell. Write it down and send it to Jane Smith by March 1, 2011. See the rules in the big Club Manual (your Club President has one). Be sure to include the required signed waiver (See link above.)
Deadline for all 2010 writing entries is March 1, 2011.
GFWC 2010 Writing Contests
GFWC OF MISSOURI CREATIVE ARTS CHAIRMAN: JANE SMITH
Youth Short Story Writing Contest:
*Short stories are limited to 2,000 words maximum.
*Youth authors may enter one short story for club contests.
*Entries must be typed, double-spaced, printed on one side only, with
minimum margins of 1 inch on all four sides, on 8 ½ inch x 11 inch
paper.
*Entries must be written during the contest year.
*Entries must have the following in the top right hand corner of each
page:
author’s name, e-mail address, mailing address, phone number,
name of local club and state, category, and title of manuscript
*Manuscripts will not be returned. Authors should keep a copy.
*Authors must be amateurs; earnings from writing may not exceed $500
annually.
*Manuscripts may not have been published prior to the competition.
*Manuscripts must be original work by the author.
*Categories:
Category 1: Grades 1, 2, and 3
Category 2: Grades 4, 5, and 6
Category 3: Grades 7, 8, and 9
Category 4: Grades 10, 11, and 12
*By submitting their short story to GFWC, authors are providing GFWC
with a royalty-free perpetual license to use, reproduce, post, display,
create derivative works, sell, license, or
sub-license the work in any media now known or later invented without
limitation, for commercial or non-commercial purposes. Please be sure
that all entries are accompanied by the signed waiver referenced above.
Parents should sign their child’s waiver.
Youth Poetry Writing Contest:
*All above rules apply
*Entries of poems can be any style, with a minimum length of 8 lines & a
maximum length
of 50 lines.
*Youth poets may enter one poem for club contests on the local level.
Please be sure that all entries are accompanied by the signed waiver
referenced above.
GFWC Member Short Story Writing Contest:
*All above rules apply except: Authors must be dues-paying members of active GFWC clubs. Only one category--members. Please be sure that all entries are accompanied by the signed waiver.
GFWC Member Poetry Writing Contest:
All above rules apply except: Authors must be dues-paying members of
active GFWC clubs
Only one category--members. Be sure to send signed waiver.