Wyoming County Writing Contest

The Wyoming County Economic Development Authority is hosting a writing competition to encourage and recognize, through grant awards, new or established writers of Wyoming County, WV. The purpose is to help keep alive and inspire new historical and cultural endeavors through the craft of writing. Applicants must submit an entry to the Planning Commission comprised of writers and Wyoming County residents approved by the Beckley Area Foundation (BAF). These awards are made possible by the generous gift of a Wyoming County donor, Lonnie Bailey, who created the Literature Fund for Wyoming County at BAF.

Additional notes:

• Winners will be announced in the Summer of 2021.
• There is no entry fee, although we encourage each applicant to only submit 1-3 entries.
• Photos are not to be submitted with your entry.

Deadline
Entries must be submitted to the Planning Commission between April 1, 2021 – May 31, 2021.

Eligibility
The entrant must be a resident of Wyoming County in grades 1-12 or 18+. Public, private and homeschool students are allowed. All entries must be the original work of the entrant. Published works are not eligible to be entered.

Categories & Prizes

• Elementary (1st-5th grade)
  • 1st - $75
    
  • 2nd $50
    
  • 3rd $25
• Middle School (6th-8th grade)
  • 1st - $100
    
  • 2nd $75
• High School (9th-12th grade)
  • 1st - $100
    
  • 2nd $75
• Adults (18+)
  • 1st - $300
    
  • 2nd $200

Guidelines

• The author’s name must not appear in the entry.
• Entries must be titled, typed in standard 12-point font on one side of 8.5x11 white paper and double-spaced. (A parent or teacher may assist with typing elementary school entries.)
• Each entry must contain at least 1,000 words with a 5,000-word max; 1st -5th grades have a 200-word minimum.
• Entries with multiple pages must be stapled or secured with paper clips.
• Entries must be the original work of the entrant.
• All sources should be specifically named.
• Poetry will be accepted and not have a word requirement.

Submission
Entries must be sent to the Planning Commission at 506A River Road, P.O. Box 1828, Pineville, WV, 24874 OR emailed to christylaxton@wyomingcounty.com. If emailing, please include “Wyoming County Writing Contest” in the subject line.

Elementary students may choose to write from one of the following prompts (or create your own):

• Sunny Summer Day… What is your favorite thing to do in Wyoming County on sunny summer days?
• Unique Facts... Research and share three unique facts about Wyoming County.
• Pay it Forward… What is one thing you would like to do now or in the future to make Wyoming County a better place?
• Cityscapes… If you had a friend visit from another state, what is the one place in Wyoming County you would insist they visit or see? What makes this place so special?
• Notable people… Write about a famous person born and raised in Wyoming County.