To support writing in schools, TVW sponsors an annual writing contest among local high schools. Members volunteer to judge hundreds of submissions in fiction, poetry, and essay forms. Winners are given cash prizes and read selections of their work at the awards ceremony.
Tri-Valley Writers annual high school writing contest
“My Story, My Vision”
Eligibility:
All students attending high schools in Danville, Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, and San Ramon.
Important Dates: Submissions begin in February. Refer to the contest year dropdown for more details.
Categories:
- Poetry: Writing in verse. May include prose poetry, free verse, song lyrics, spoken word (i.e., rap). Up to 30 lines (title not included).
- Literary Nonfiction: Essay, memoir, travel. 1200 word max. (title not included).
- Short Story (fiction): Writing that is not factual yet conveys an author’s point of view. All genres accepted. 1200 word max. (title not included).
Rules:
1) Students may submit up to two pieces.
2) Submit online at www.trivalleywriters.org
3) A separate cover letter must accompany every entry, and include: Name, address, phone, email, high school, grade level, age, title of entry, and category selection.
4) No illustrations, graphics, or photographs accepted.
5) Student’s name must not appear on the piece itself. Name should appear ONLY on the cover letter.
6) Entry Instructions: Title: At the top left, Page Number: At the top right, Font: Times New Roman or Arial at 12 point, Spacing: Double spaced, except for poetry which can be single spaced.
Helpful Hints
The judges will focus on several areas when they evaluate the writing selections. You may want to keep these areas in mind as you edit and polish your piece before submission. Happy writing!
Prose (excluding essays)
Quality of writing
- Is it compelling and interesting?
- Does it evoke emotion in the reader?
- Is a sense of tension and/or conflict present?
Development
- Is the pacing – speed and rhythm of the story – appropriate for the type of story?
- Are the characters well-drawn and multi-dimensional?
- Are multiple senses used?
Mechanics
- Are sentence structure, spelling, punctuation and grammar correct?
- Are the tense and Point of View (POV) consistent?
- Is there a good use of dialogue and language?
Prose – Essays
Quality of writing
- Is the essay compelling and interesting?
- Is the topic meaningful and clear?
- Does it have a strong narrative voice?
Development
- Is the pacing – speed and rhythm – appropriate for the type of essay?
- Does the essay have a narrative arc (introduction, supporting material that develops the idea, and conclusion)?
- Is there a clear take-away for the reader?
Mechanics
- Are sentence structure, spelling, punctuation and grammar correct?
- Are the tense and Point of View (POV) consistent?
- Is the supporting material consistently relevant to the topic?
Poetry
Quality of writing
- Is there “meaning” to the writing, and is that conveyed well?
- Is it compelling and interesting?
- Does it evoke emotion in the reader?
Development
- Can the reader feel and/or visualize the images presented?
- Are the rhyme and/or rhythm natural and sensible, or artificial and forced?
- Does the poem lead naturally to its conclusion?
Mechanics
- Are spelling, punctuation and grammar correct?
- Are the line endings/line breaks used effectively?
- Does the word choice enable the poem to reach its intent?
Past Contests:
High School Writing Contest Past Years