Entry Form

Entry requirements

The annual Public Safety Writers Association Writing Competition is open to any paid member in good standing of the Public Safety Writers Association (PSWA).  All entries must be the original work of the entrant. Entries in the categories listed below will be judged by published authors in the public safety writing field.  Entries will be returned to entrants, if a stamped, self addressed envelope is enclosed with the entry. 

All entries must be accompanied by a completed entry form, that you can find here or entry forms may be obtained by writing:

PSWA Writing Competition
535 W. Oregon Ave.
Creswell, OR 97426

To qualify for entry, an original copy of the work must be submitted.  Original copies are defined as:

For published works:  a copy of any book in which the entry is the entire work or a portion of a work.  A tear sheet from a newspaper, magazine or other publication will be accepted, although the publication in its entirety is preferred.

For unpublished work:  a copy of the work in its entirety.
Please submit a hard copy of the work, as well as, an e-mail or CD copy. E-mail entries to michelle@thewritinghand.net.      

Entries, winning or non-winning, may be accompanied by a short critique by the judges.  Awards will be given at the annual PSWA Conference.  Entrants need not be present to win.  Winning entries (except book length works) will be published by the PSWA and made available to all entrants, PSWA members and conference attendees. 

Entry fees

            $10 per entry
            Checks should be made payable to Public Safety Writers Association

Awards

A Grand Prize will be awarded for the overall best work. Awards of first, second, third and honorable mention will be available in each category, although not all places in a given category will necessarily be awarded.  The awarding of places will be at the discretion of the judges.  Winners will receive a plaque or certificate and (5) PSWA “Award Winner” labels to place on the award winning work. Additional labels can be purchased.

Competition Categories

All entries in the competition must be somehow related to public safety subjects or issues.  Both published and non-published works are eligible for entry in the competition, but will be judged in separate categories.  Contestants may enter in more than one category and submit up to three entries in each category.  The categories are:

• Fiction: Book, Short Story, Flash
• Non Fiction:  Book, Creative-Non-Technical, Creative-Technical, Training Manual
  Poetry
• Screenplay

Deadlines:  All entries must be postmarked by May 1, 2011 to be eligible but may be submitted anytime after October 1, 2010.

Results of the 2010 Writing Competition

Results of the 2009 Writing Competition

Results of the 2008 Writing Competition

Results of the 2007 Writing Competition

Results of the 2006 Writing Competition