Patten Free Library announces 11th annual writing contest

Patten Free Library’s annual writing contest opens for entries on Friday, November 1. Now in its eleventh year, the writing competition awards prizes in both short fiction and creative non-fiction for teens and adults.

“As the competition enters its second decade, we are shaking it up with some exciting new additions,” said Hannah Lackoff, program and outreach manager, in a prepared release. “This year we will have three local celebrity judges and publication in a literary magazine for the winners.”

Entries will be accepted from November 1 through December 6 from adults and teens in grades 6 and up who live or attend school in the Patten Free Library service area (Arrowsic, Bath, Georgetown, West Bath, Woolwich). Short fiction includes any style, genre, or content, including short stories and novelizations (not fan fiction). Creative nonfiction includes personal essays and memoirs in any style, as long as it is true (not academic articles). One entry per author per category. Entries may contain a maximum of 1,500 words; works longer than 1,500 words will not be considered.

Winners will be chosen by Matthew Glassman, executive director of the Chocolate Church Arts Center; Terri Shurz, owner of Mockingbird Bookshop; and writer Maggie Webbert. The first and second place winners will receive a small honorarium and their work will be published in the Patten Free Library’s literary magazine. All writers will be honored during a reception in early 2025.

Visit patten.lib.me.us/pflwriting24/ for more information and to submit entries.

The writing competition is made possible with the support of the Friends of the Patten-Free Library.

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