Inaugural Detroit Writing Room Awards Categories

Poetry

Share a poem you’ve written about love, life, Detroit, hardships, social justice — all topics are welcome. Please keep work PG-13 in consideration of younger readers.

Word count: 1,500 maximum

Flash Fiction

Capture our attention with a fast-paced plot and characters that draw us in — and then disappear in a flash. 

Word count: 1,500 maximum

Non-Fiction

Share a story about an issue, person or place you care about. Tell us things we don’t know, but should. 

Word count: 2,000 maximum. Writers may submit a portion of a longer story. Journalism pieces that have not been published are permitted.

Memoir

Share a treasured memory, challenge you’ve overcome or lesson you’ve learned as you’ve gone through life.

Word count: 2,000 maximum. Writers may submit a portion of a longer story.

Essay

An essay can inform, entertain or persuade. Tell us about a topic or issue you deeply care about. What do you want readers to know?

Word count: 2,000 maximum

Screenwriting

Share a screenplay for film or TV. Enthrall us with your action, dialogue, setting and characters.

Word count: 2,000 maximum. Writers should submit a portion of a full screenplay.

Blogs

Metro Detroit bloggers may submit a post highlighting food, fashion, entertainment, health, parenting or Michigan travel.

Word count: 2,000 maximum. The post may be previously published on a website or Substack. Photos may be included in the submission.

Children's Book Manuscript

Submit a fictional story for readers ages 4-8. Wrap us in a picture book that readers young and old will love.

Word count: 850 maximum. Please submit a text only. Entries will be judged on the manuscript, not illustrations. 

Photography 

Share a photo that you captured in Metro Detroit and the story behind it. The image could feature a person, place, nature or architecture.

Word count: 1,000 maximum. Submit a high resolution PNG or JPG image.

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