The first ceremony celebrating Detroit writers of all ages. We will be honoring the incredible poets, screenwriters, novelists, bloggers, communications professionals and writers of all genres from the Motor City.
Since we opened our doors two years ago, The Detroit Writing Room has had the pleasure of hearing the amazing words and stories shared by writers at our workshops, open mic nights and private coaching sessions. Detroit has birthed some of the world’s most talented artists and writers, and there are many who have yet to be discovered or recognized.
Anyone who lives in or is from Metro Detroit is welcome to submit their work for a chance to place in 9 categories. There are two age categories for writers 13-17 and adults 18+.
Choose from the following categories: Poetry, flash fiction, nonfiction, memoir, screenwriting, blogs, children’s book, photography and public relations. Browse all categories here.
The deadline to enter is Sept. 10. The awards will be presented at The Detroit Writing Room in January 2022. There will be an opportunity to watch virtually.
Finalists will be chosen by Writing Room coaches who are award-winning journalists, authors, playwrights and professors in Metro Detroit and New York. There are also several guest author judges.
You are welcome to enter multiple categories and submit as many entries as you’d like. Each entry is $25.
Work must be your own. You may not submit work on behalf of someone else.
Entries must be original content that has not been published in a print or online publication. You may submit work published on a personal website or business website.
Entries must not be under contract with a publisher.
Each category has a word count maximum. If your work exceeds the maximum, you may submit a portion of your story.
Entries should be sent in a Word doc to events@detroitwritingroom.com. Please include the category and your name in the subject. Ex: Poetry by Krystalle Hill.
Entries for the photography category should be sent as a JPG or PNG. Please send high resolution photography only.
If selected a finalist, work may be lightly edited for spelling, grammar and style. Finalists retain full copyright over their work.
Writers must fill out the following form and submit payment in order for their entry to be considered.
All proceeds from this event benefit our 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm Coaching Detroit Forward and helps support free writing and photography camps, workshops and after-school programs for Detroit high school students.
Writers must submit payment in order for their entry to be considered. Once you submit your entry form you will then be redirected to the payment screen.
You may pay for multiple entries at once.
June - Sept. 10: Entries for The Detroit Writing Room Awards are open.
September: Judges will view submissions.
October: Finalists will be notified.
January: The awards will be presented at The Detroit Writing Room. Finalists will learn whether they take 1st, 2nd or 3rd place. There will be an opportunity to watch virtually.
Sponsorships help send Detroit students to Coaching Detroit Forward’s summer camps, where they learn writing and storytelling skills, photography and gain mentors who help them with future internships and job opportunities.
Sponsorships are tax deductible and include benefits such as advertisements in the publication featuring all finalists, logo placement online, social media & newsletter mentions, complimentary tickets, the opportunity to present a category at the awards and more.
You or your company can be part of uplifting the voices and stories told in our city.
Contact events@detroitwritingroom.com for details.
