Get your creativity flowing with our annual Writers & Poets Contest!

The Washington County Free Library is once again pleased to announce its annual Writers and Poets Contest! The contest includes five age divisions: children in grades 2-3; grades 4-5; grades 6-8; grades 9-12, and adults. 

Entries will be accepted beginning Monday, December 15, 2025, through Sunday, February 15, 2025. 

Please note that this submission window is a month earlier than previous years. This change is an exciting one, as it will allow our 2026 winners the chance to meet Kazu Kibuishi, author and illustrator of the “Amulet” series, when he visits Fletcher Library on April 11, 2026. 

Aside from the chance to meet Kazu Kibuishi and receive a signed copy of his book, first, second, and third place winners will have their work printed in the 2026 Writers & Poets anthology, and be honored at the Writers & Poets Winners Reception on April 15, 2026.  

2026 Writers & Poets Contest Submission Guidelines

• You may submit: 
  • up to 2 poems
  • 1 short story
• Poems must be no longer than 100 lines
  Short stories must be no longer than 1200 words
• Poems and short stories that are gratuitously violent, sexual or profane will not be considered. 
• You must be a Washington County Maryland resident or hold a valid WCFL Library Card
• First place winners from the previous year (2025) will not be considered for first place again. 
• Hard copy submissions: 
  • Must be turned in to a WCFL branch by February 15 OR mailed to 100 S. Potomac St. Hagerstown Md. 21740 Attn: Children’s Department postmarked by February 15
  • Must include a completed cover sheet* and a typed or neatly handwritten copy of your work. 
• Email submissions: 
  • Must be emailed to submissions@washcolibrary.org by February 15
  • Subject line: Writers & Poets
  • Must include the following attachments: 
    • A completed cover sheet*
    • Your work in Word Doc format (NO PDFs)

*Cover sheet: download cover sheet or pick up at any WCFL branch. 

Writers & Poets Contest FAQ

Can I submit a piece that's already been published elsewhere? 
No. All pieces submitted must be pieces that have not been published before. The purpose of this contest is to give non-professional writers an opportunity to see their writing in print. 
Where will the winning entries be published? 
Winning entries will be printed in an anthology. This anthology is not an official publication and will not be publicly circulated. It is an honorary gift for all winners of the contest. 
Will I be able to check the anthology of winners out of the library? 
The anthology will not become a circulating part of our library collection. However, the Children’s Department of the Fletcher Library maintains copies of the anthology, and they are available for use inside the library at your request. 
Where and when will the names of the winners be officially announced? 
Names of the winners will be officially announced on WCFL’s social media prior to the Writers & Poets Winners Reception, which takes place April 15, 2026. 
How do I know if I won? 
You will receive a phone call notifying you that you have won. This call will be followed up by a formal invitation in the mail. If you do not receive a phone call and mailed invitation by April 15, you have not won, and you are invited to try again next year. 
When will the winners be contacted? 
Winners will be contacted in mid to late March of 2026. 
Is there a theme I should write about? 
No. You may write about any topic you wish. 
Can I turn my submission in online? 
For the first time ever, we are accepting submissions via email. To submit via email, you must submit as an attachment your completed cover page, and your completed piece as a Word Doc. 
Is dinner served at the winners’ reception? 
A light dinner is served, typically pinwheels, veggies, fruit, cookies, and drinks. 
What are the guidelines for the poems and short stories? 
Poems should not exceed 100 lines. Short stories should not exceed 1200 words. Pieces that are deemed gratuitously violent, sexual, or profane will not be considered. 
Can I enter again if I’ve won this contest in the past? 
If you won first place in any category the previous year, you will not be eligible to win first place again. You can still enter, but you won’t be eligible to win first place in any category.