Entry Requirements
The annual Public Safety Writers Association Writing Competition is open to any paid member in good standing of the Public Safety Writers Association (PSWA). The Coordinator is Barbara M. Hodges, PSWA Board Member.
All entries must meet the following criteria:
- Be the original work of the entrant.
- Have a public safety element (plot, character, etc.).
Submission Instructions.
- A completed entry form and entry fee must be submitted for each entry.
- Use the link at the bottom of this page to download the form.
- Send the entry form and entry fee to Barbara M. Hodges, 187 Alyssum Circle, Nipomo, CA 93444. Include one entry form for each submission. If doing multiple entries one check can cover all entry fees. Checks should be made out to, the Public Safety Writers Association.
- Send all published books to Barbara M. Hodges, 187 Alyssum Circle, Nipomo, CA 93444
- For published works except books: A tear sheet from a newspaper, magazine, or other publication will be accepted, although the publication in its entirety is preferred. Attach to email as a file. Published means published by the close of the contest, March 31, 2024.
- For unpublished works: a copy of the work in its entirety, attached as a file to an email.
The Process
Awards are given at the annual PSWA conference award luncheon. We encourage you to attend, but entrants need not be present to win.
Entry fees
- $20 for your first entry
- $10 for each additional entry
All made payable to the Public Safety Writers Association.
Awards
Awards of first, second, third, and honorable mention are available in each category, although not all places in a given category will be awarded. The awarding of places is at the discretion of the judges. All winners receive a certificate and three (3) PSWA “Award Winner” labels to place on the award-winning work. Additional labels can be purchased from PSWA for $1 each.
There will be two special awards for published books. The highest-scoring fiction and non-fiction book will receive the Marilyn Meredith Award of Excellence.
Competition Categories
All entries in the competition must be related to public safety subjects or issues. Both published and non-published works are eligible for entry in the competition but will be judged in separate categories. Contestants may enter in more than one category. Please note the new book categories under published fiction books.
The categories are:
Published:
- Non-Fiction: Books, Technical Manual, Memoir
- Micro Writing 25-40,000 words
- Fiction Books. Submit to the category that best fits your book.
- Police Procedurals
- Thriller
- Suspense including romance and paranormal
- Mystery including cozy mystery
- Science Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade and Children
Non-Published
- Fiction
- Non-Fiction
- Micro Writing 25-40,000 words
- Screenplay
Short Form: Under 25,000 words
- Non-fiction that isn’t technical (people and events more than technical details)
- Non-fiction that is technical (equipment or processes more than people or events)
- Fiction Short Stories
- Individual poem
- Flash Writing: Fiction and Non-Fiction (500-word maximum, excluding title)
Judges have the discretion to move an entry into a different, more appropriate category. The entrant will be advised of this move.
Deadlines
All entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2024, to be eligible but may be submitted anytime after January 1, 2024.
If you have any questions, contact [email protected]