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Adult Writing Contest

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Adult Writing Contest:

FICTION
Matthew Stedman for
"They Come Knocking"

NONFICTION
Zachary Parker for
"101 Days"

POETRY
Shelby Arr for
"Broken Social Code"

Contest entries will be published in ouR new zine New Beginnings, coming out later this year. Unfortunately, we do not have a set publishing date yet, but we expect it to be around the end of summer. For updates, check back to this page.

Thanks to all the participating authors for sharing their words with us!

Submission Guidelines

Creative Writing Submissions

  • Participants must be 18+ and a resident of Clark County, Nevada

  • Entry can be a short story (2,000 words or less), poem (45 lines or less), or nonfiction piece (2,000 words or less)

  • Must be digitally produced, double-spaced (except poetry) and submitted via email

  • Must be an original, unpublished work (has not appeared in physical form or on any digital platform); AI-generated content does not qualify.

  • Each page of the submission must have the title in the upper right corner and the page numbers on the bottom right corner

  • Up to two entries may be submitted per person

  • All submitted work should be "publication ready"

  • Submissions should be sent as Word or PDF attachments

What's next?

Judging

  • All entries will be ranked anonymously based on content, originality, and quality of expression

  • Writers do not receive feedback on their submissions

  • Judges' decisions are final

If selected

  • Writers will be asked to sign a licensing agreement which gives Henderson Libraries the right to publish and distribute selected work indefinitely

  • Authors will retain copyright of their individual work

Publication

  • Manuscripts will be published in the online zine New Beginnings, the library’s annual digital magazine

  • This anthology will provide local authors the opportunity to build name recognition and readership/viewership

Winners

  • There will be one winner in each submission category

  • Each winner receives a $50 gift certificate

  • Henderson Libraries will not be hosting a reception at this time. Winners will be asked for a photo op when they pick up their prize