Literary Contest
Adult Writing Contest
Contest Details
Important 2025 Dates
Submissions Open: March 1, 2025
Submissions Close: March 31, 2025
Awards Ceremony: April 24, 2025
Who Can Enter
Residents of Pickens County, Georgia that are 18+ years of age
Writing Categories
– Poetry
– Fiction
– Non-Fiction
Prizes for Each Category
1st: $100.00, Certificate of Achievement, and Personalized Marble Plaque
2nd: $50.00 and Certificate of Achievement
3rd: $25.00 and Certificate of Achievement
Honorable Mention: Certificate of Achievement
Contest Rules
How To Submit
Each submission must be submitted digitally through the online form OR as a paper copy
Register HERE to create your online account so you can submit your piece.
Each hard copy submission must have a completed Entry Form stapled to it. If you are submitting to more than one category, each submission must have its own entry form.
Hard copy submissions may be turned in directly to the President of Sassafras Literary, Jessica Bowers, at the monthly writers meeting on Thursday March 20 at the Pickens Library from 5:00pm-6:30pm.
Online submission must use the form located at https://sassafrasliterary.org/submit-adult-writings/
You must create a unique login for the website to submit online.
Requirements
– One Submission Per Category, Per Person in up to Two Categories
– No use of AI or assistive writing software or tools is permitted
– Put the title of the story or poem at the top of the work being submitted
– Do not put your name on the story or poem. Submissions are judged anonymously.
– 1500 word limit for fiction or non-fiction. 50 line limit for poetry.
– Entries must be typed, double spaced, Times New Roman or Arial font, 12 point font.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Sassafras Literary by reaching out to email sassafraswriters@gmail.com. Please note that online submissions cannot be sent to this email.
Youth Writing Contest Information
Encouraging Creative Writing in the Students of Pickens County
45th Annual Creative Writing for Youth Contest Details:
Important 2025 Dates
Submissions Open: September 2025
Submissions Close: TBD
Awards Ceremony: TBD
Who Can Enter
High School (9th – 12th grade), Junior High (7th – 8th grade), and Middle School (6th grade) students who live in and are educated in Pickens County are eligible to enter.
Writing Categories
– Poetry
– Fiction
– Non-Fiction
Prizes for Each Category
High School
1st: $75.00 and Personalized Marble Plaque
2nd: $50.00
3rd: $25.00
Middle/Junior High
1st: $60.00 and Personalized Marble Plaque
2nd: $50.00
3rd: $20.00
Past Youth Literary Contest Winners
Youth Writing Contest
Rules
One Entry per Category
Each student may only submit one entry per category –
Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction
How to Submit
Each submission must be submitted digitally through the online form OR as a paper copy
Register HERE to create your online account so you can submit your piece.
Do NOT put your name on the submitted piece. This ensures that the judges won’t know who the author is.
Paper copies should be given to your teacher or mailed to the address indicated on the entry form.
Complete and staple an entry form to each submission. The form must be folded so that the author’s name cannot be seen from the outside.
Entrants should keep a copy of their entries.
Requirements
– Each student may submit one entry per category
– No use of AI or assistive writing software or tools is permitted
– Put the title of the story or poem at the top of the work being submitted
– Do not put the student’s name on the story or poem. Submissions are judged anonymously.
– 1500 word limit for fiction or non-fiction. 50 line limit for poetry.
– Entries must be typed, double spaced, Times New Roman or Arial font, 12 point font.
– Submissions accepted in hard copy or online.
– Each hard copy submission must have a completed Entry Form stapled to it. Entry forms must be folded so the author’s name cannot be seen on the outside. Hard copy submissions may be turned into your teacher or dropped off during the monthly Sassafras Literary meeting hosted at the Pickens Library on the third Thursday of the month from 5:00pm – 6:30pm.
– Online submission must use the form located at https://sassafrasliterary.org/contest/ You must create a unique login for the website to submit online.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Sassafras Literary by reaching out to email sassafraswriters@gmail.com. Please note that online submissions cannot be sent to this email.