Erma Bombeck Writing Competition
The 2010 competition is now closed. Read the winning entries!
Thanks to our esteemed panel of judges, writers, and sponsors.
Mark your calendars--the next contest opens in January 2012!
Thanks to our esteemed panel of judges, writers, and sponsors.
Mark your calendars--the next contest opens in January 2012!
"Hook 'em with the lead. Hold 'em with laughter.
Exit with a quip they won't forget."
˜ Erma Bombeck
Erma Bombeck, graduated from the University of Dayton in 1949, lived with her husband and family in Centerville, Ohio, and inspired people worldwide with her columns and books about life's trials and tribulations. Her memory lives on in the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition hosted every two years by the Washington-Centerville Public Library and the University of Dayton.
Over 1,300 writers from around the world entered the 2008 competition!
Get Inspired!
- Check out these great books and movies
- Read past winning entries
- Sign up for the FREE Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop e-mail newsletter.
- Watch Karyl Miller's, Writing Funny for Money in Hollywood, video from UD's Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop:
- See the 2010 competition statistics.
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How to Enter
- Choose one category for entry:
- Humor
- Human Interest
- Write a personal essay of 450 words or fewer (as determined by Microsoft Word word count tool) following the judging
guidelines.
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.
- Submit entry online using the official online entry form (link visible when contest opens).
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Eligibility & Rules
Eligibility:
- All ages may enter (all entries are judged together).
- Entries are accepted from anywhere in the world.
- Previous contest winners are encouraged to enter.
- Washington-Centerville Public Library employees, board members, contest judges and their families are not eligible.
- Entry must be written in English.
- Limit one entry (total, not per category) per person.
- Personal essay must be 450 words or less (entries of more than 450 words will be disqualified).
- Essay must be previously unpublished, or only published since January 4, 2010. Essays that have previously appeared on Web sites are considered published.
- Entries must be submitted online using the official online entry form (link visible above when contest opens).
- Hard copy entries (and/or any accompanying materials) will not be accepted, and will not be returned if submitted
- Entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM, EST, January 31, 2010
- All submissions are final - corrections to and replacements for submitted essays will not be allowed
- By submitting your entry, you guarantee the work was written by you and expresses your original ideas.
- Washington-Centerville Public Library reserves the non-exclusive right to publish the winning entries
- No entry fee
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Judging
- Entries in the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition are judged in two rounds - first by a panel of volunteer judges from across the United States and Australia, and then by a final judge in each category.
- Blind judging is used which means that the author's name is not on the work as it is being judged.
- Our panel of judges will use the following guidelines to score the entries:
All Entries - General Criteria:- Does it have the voice of Erma? Erma knew how to portray the humor in the mundaneness of everyday life.
- Is it organized? Does it stay on topic and have well-developed ideas?
- Does it have a compelling lead? The piece should "Hook 'em with the lead. Hold 'em with laughter. Exit with a quip they won't forget."
- General criteria as stated above.
- Is it funny?
- General criteria as stated above.
- Is it true and does it evoke emotion?
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Winners & Prizes
- 4 first place winners will be selected:
- Humor - Global (Regional & International)
- Humor - Local (Montgomery County/Dayton, Ohio area)
- Human Interest - Global (Regional & International)
- Human Interest - Local (Montgomery County/Dayton, Ohio area)
- Each first place winner will receive a $100 cash prize
- First place winners will also receive free admission ($375 value) to the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop sponsored by the University of Dayton.
- Winning essays will be published on Washington-Centerville Public Library's Web site and in a local newspaper.
- Judges will also select several essays for Honorable Mention
- Writers of essays selected for Honorable Mention will receive a competition certificate
- Decisions of the judges are final.
- Winners will be announced in March
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Erma Celebration
Centerville Library, Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 7 PM
Featuring humor writer and comedienne Leighann Lord!
Recipient of the NYC Black Comedy Award for "The Most Thought Provoking Black Female Comic". Also known as the "Urban Erma", Lord pokes fun at everday life in her weekly column Leighann Lord's Comic Perspective. She is also a regular on Fox News online show, The Strategy Room.
Registration: Not Required.
Attendance is not required to win the competition.
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For more information, e-mail libadmin@wcpl.lib.oh.us.