EVENTS

The Writers Competition at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library is one of the oldest and most prestigious contests of its kind in the Inland Northwest. In 1987 Library Director Julie Meier perceived the need to discover and recognize talented writers in our regional community and to challenge young people and adults to take an interest in writing and to hone their skills. Another goal of the Writers Competition is to reveal great authors living in our midst.

To add a tangible reward to the honor of winning the competition, Hecla Mining Company agreed to fund cash prizes for the winning entries for the first contest in 1988. Hecla continued to fund the prizes through 2001. Beginning with the 2002 competition cash prizes were funded by a grant from the Coeur d’Alene Kiwanis Club. The Friends of the Coeur d’Alene Public Library provide volunteers to organize the competition and host the annual Awards Ceremony.

The Writers Competition is judged by a group of volunteers composed of professional writers and editors working in North Idaho and Spokane.

Official Writers Competition entry forms and rules are available beginning Jan. 31 each year. Forms can be picked up at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library or downloaded by clicking this link. Requests for mailed forms must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Entries must normally be returned to the Library by March 31.

2025 WRITERS COMPETITION OFFICIAL RULES

►Rules must be followed or the entry may be disqualified. ◄

Adults organizing group entries for children: Please make sure you have read and understand the rules.

Categories: Fiction or Nonfiction

Grades/Age Groups: (Grades based on Fall 2024 enrollment) Grade K-2 / Grade 3-5 / Grade 6-8 / Grade 9-12 / Adult-19+

Submission Deadline: March 31, 2025.

Prizes: Provided by the Coeur d’Alene Kiwanis Club and the Friends of the Coeur d’Alene Public Library – First: $100, Second: $50, Third $25. In case of ties, full duplicate prizes will be awarded.

Three ways to submit your entry:

1. Pick up a paper copy of the entry form from the library and return it with your submission
2. Print out a paper copy of the entry form and turn it in to the library with your submission
3. Fill out the form on our website (cdalibrary.org) and submit your entry online

YOUR RULES CHECKLIST

• A participant may submit only ONE (1) entry.
• Submission is restricted to community members who live within a 50 mile radius of Coeur d’Alene
• Entries may be either fiction or nonfiction.
• Entries can be up to 2,000 words or less.
• Entries must not have been previously published or previously submitted to this contest. (Entries submitted simultaneously to the PBS Kids Writers Contest are also welcome in this competition.)
• Participants in Kindergarten through Second grades may submit hand-written entries as long as the writing is legible. Participants who can’t yet write may dictate their entry to an adult to be typewritten.
• Entries for Grades 3 and older must be typewritten on one side of standard letter-size white paper with at least one-inch margins.  Double spacing is encouraged to increase legibility.
• Illustrations are encouraged, but must be within the prescribed margins.
• Do not use cursive, all-cap, complicated, or other difficult-to-read fonts.
• Title page must be included and contain the following information:
  Title, your name, category and grade or age group.(Your name should appear ONLY on the title page. Do NOT begin your story on the title page.)
• Beginning with the page after the title page, include the title and page numbers on ALL pages in the upper right-hand corner. The page after the title page is Page 1.  (The title and page number can be within the margin space.)
• Do not staple, bind or fold your entry.
• Each entry must include one clean copy of the entry and a signed official entry form.
• Submit in a large, manila envelope (minimum size 9X12) to the library by March 31, 2025. One entry per envelope, please.

Winners will be notified of the time and place of the awards ceremony. (Time constraints do not allow the staff to contact all competitors.) Prizes will be given to the winner (or his/her authorized representative) at the ceremony. Prizes will NOT be mailed to winners.

Winners’ names will be provided to local news media and will also be listed on the Coeur d’Alene Public Library’s website and its social media sites.

Tips for competitors:

• Before you begin to write, read the rules that accompany your entry form and then REREAD them. You must use the required format.
• Try to write the same way you talk. You may find it useful to read your entry out loud. Does it sound natural to you?
• Write about what you know. Look for stories in the world around you.
• You will find it valuable to have another person read your story for errors before you submit it.

Click here for Printable Form (for submitting in person).