Erma Bombeck Writing Competition

Capture the essence of Erma's writings and you could win $1,000 and a free registration to the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop to be held October 29-31, 2020 at the University of Dayton! Honorable mentions will receive $100.

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 with the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition hosted every two years by the Washington-Centerville Public Library and the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop hosted by the University of Dayton.

News! Two prolific authors — Bill Bryson and Jess Montgomery — will serve as finalist judges for the 2020 Erma Bombeck Writing Competition. And none other than Betsy Bombeck, Erma’s daughter, will keynote the Awards Celebration at the Woodbourne Library. Read more!

For more information or questions about this competition, please call Debe Dockins, Community Outreach Coordinator, at 937-610-4429 or send an email to: ddockins@wcpl.lib.oh.us.

December 2, 2019 (8 AM EST): Erma Bombeck Writing Competition Opens

December 12, 2019 (noon): U.D. Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop Registration Opens

January 6, 2020 (8 AM EST): Erma Bombeck Writing Competition Closes

January 10, 2020 through mid-February: Erma Bombeck Writing Competition Judging

February 24, 2020: (projected) Winners Announced

October 28, 2020 (7 PM): Erma Celebration: Betsy Bombeck, Keynote Speaker

October 29-31, 2020: U.D. Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop

• Get the feel of the "Erma writing style" and learn more about one of America’s most celebrated storytellers and humorists by checking out these books and movies.
• Read past winning entries.
• Sign up for the FREE Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop email newsletter.
• View the 2020 competition statistics.

Eligibility:

• Entries are accepted from anywhere in the world.
• Previous contest winners are encouraged to enter.
• Children under 13 are NOT eligible to enter.
• Registration to the University of Dayton's Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop is NOT required to enter the writing competition.
• The following are not eligible to enter: Washington-Centerville Public Library employees & board members, contest judges and their families, and Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop faculty and speakers for the current year.

Rules:

• $15 entry fee.
• 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 in its entirety or pieces thereof. Essays must not have been previously published in a blog, book, magazine, website or any other medium.
• Essay must be written by one person; no writing teams, ghostwriters or writing partnerships.
• Payment and entry must be submitted online using the official online entry form. PayPal link will be visible below when the contest opens.
• You do not need to set up a PayPal account in order to pay the Entry Fee. PayPal accepts credit cards and is simply the administrator of the payment.
• Hard copy entries will not be accepted and will not be returned if submitted.
• Deadline for entry submission is January 6, 2020 at 8 AM EST. Late entries are not permitted.
• 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; however, the owner retains ownership rights for future publication.

• Choose one category for entry:
  • Humor (Is it funny?)
  • Human Interest (Is it touching and poignant, but less humorous?)
• Write a personal essay of 450 words or less following the judging criteria.
  

  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.

• Entries in the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition are judged in three rounds.
• All entries are judged anonymously.
• All judges are highly qualified and may include actors, actresses, authors, bloggers, columnists, comedians, editors, producers, professors, and writers from across the globe.
• Final Round judging will be judged by esteemed authors Bill Bryson (Humor) and Jess Montgomery (Human Interest).
• Meet our esteemed panel of judges.

General Criteria (All entries)

• 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."

Humor Criteria (Humor entries)

• General criteria as stated above.
• Is it funny?

Human Interest Criteria (Human interest entries)

• General criteria as stated above.
• Is it true and does it evoke emotion?

• Read past winning entries.
• 4 first place winners will be selected:
  • Humor - Global (Non-Ohio & International)
  • Humor - Local (All Ohio Entries)
  • Human Interest - Global (Non-Ohio & International)
  • Human Interest - Local (All Ohio Entries)
• $1,000 cash prize to first place winners in all four categories and $100 to Honorable Mentions.
• First place winners also receive free admission ($485 value) to the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop hosted by the University of Dayton from October 29 through October 31, 2020. First place winners who have already registered and paid for the Workshop will have their registration fee refunded. Winners who are on the Workshop Waiting List or have not registered for the Workshop, will be admitted to the Workshop, if they want to attend.
• Winning essays will be published on Washington-Centerville Public Library's website.
• A press release will be sent locally and to the winners hometowns.
• Judges will also select several essays for Honorable Mention.
• Decisions of the judges are final.

• Woodbourne Library, Wednesday, October 28, 2020, at 7 PM
• Please welcome Betsy Bombeck as she speaks about growing up as the daughter of Erma and Bill Bombeck.
• The Awards Event will also honor the winners of the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition who will read their essays in both the Humor and Human Interest categories.
• Everyone is welcome to attend this free event. Refreshments will be served.
• Registration is required to ensure adequate seating and transportation from the Dayton Marriott (round trip) to the Library is complimentary, but limited.

• Hosted by the University of Dayton
• The Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop is now SOLD OUT.
• Workshop dates: October 29-31, 2020.
• $485 Registration Fee (waived for winners of the writing competition)
• Read about the keynote speakers, sessions, and workshop presenters on the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop website.
• Attendance at this workshop is NOT required to enter the writing competition.

Laugh-Inn

UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON LAUNCHES HUMORIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM

Thanks to a generous gift from comic novelist and writer Anna Lefler, the University of Dayton’s Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop is offering two emerging humor writers the opportunity to dive into their comedy writing without pesky everyday responsibilities.

Winners announced November 12. The program is open to all humor writers regardless of gender or comedic point of view. Writers working on novels, narrative non-fiction, plays, essays, sitcom scripts and other humor writing are encouraged to apply, with special consideration given to emerging writers. Application fee is $25. Entries will be blind-judged by preliminary and finalist judges, all established writers.

Winners also will receive a free registration to the October 29-31, 2020, Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop, dubbed the "Woodstock of Humor." Devoted to both humor and human interest writing, it’s so popular that it sells out within hours. The Marriott at the University of Dayton is an in-kind sponsor for the workshop and the residency.

For information, visit www.humorist-in-residence.com and www.humorwriters.org.