Erma Bombeck Writing Competition
The 2008 Erma Bombeck Writing Competition is now closed.
The next competition will be held in 2010.
Read the winning entries here!
Hone your writing skills and honor beloved humorist
Erma Bombeck in the process by entering this year's competition!
The next competition will be held in 2010.
Read the winning entries here!
Hone your writing skills and honor beloved humorist
Erma Bombeck in the process by entering this year's competition!
|
Erma Bombeck inspired people worldwide with her columns and books about life's trials and tribulations. Her memory lives on in the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition now hosted every two years by Washington-Centerville Public Library and the University of Dayton. More than 1,300 writers from around the world entered last year's competition. Capture the essence of Erma's writings, and you could win in 2008! |
Competition Guidelines
- Personal essay that is previously unpublished*, or has only been published since January 1, 2007
- 450 words or fewer (as determined by Microsoft Word word count tool)
- Two categories for entry:
- Humor
- Human Interest
- One Dayton, Ohio-area winner and one Global (National/International) winner will be awarded in each category
- Judges will also select several essays for "Honorable Mention"
- Limit one entry (total, not per category) per person
- No entry fee
- No age restrictions (all ages are judged together)
- Current employees and Board members of Washington-Centerville Public Library are not eligible to enter or win.
- All submissions are final - corrections to and replacements for submitted essays will not be allowed
- Washington-Centerville Public Library reserves the non-exclusive right to publish the winning entries
- Entries must be submitted online, using the official online entry form (link below under "To Enter"). Hard copy entries (and/or any accompanying materials) cannot be accepted, and will not be returned if submitted
- Entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM, EST, February 17, 2008
*Essays that have previously appeared on Web sites are considered published.
Prizes
- First place winners will be selected in the categories of:
- Humor - Global
- Humor - Dayton, Ohio-area
- Human Interest - Global
- Human Interest - Dayton, Ohio-area
- Each first place winner will receive a $100 cash prize
- Writers of essays selected for "Honorable Mention" will receive a competition certificate
- Winning essays will be published online on Washington-Centerville Public Library's Web site
Submit your entry for the 2008 Erma Bombeck Writing Competition
using our online entry form.
The 2008 Erma Bombeck Writing Competition is now closed.
Last Year's Winning Entries |
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| Author Bios and 2007 Competition Results | |
| Dayton First Place - Humor "Road Sage" First Place- Human Interest "The Anniversary" |
Global First Place - Humor "Mom on the Sauce" First Place- Human Interest "Gravity" |
| Honorable Mentions | |
What is a personal essay?
A personal essay "deals lightly, often humorously, with personal experiences, opinions, and prejudices, stressing especially the unusual or novel in attitude and having to do with the various aspects of everyday life."
- Phillip Lopate, The Art of the Personal Essay