The contest opened for entries Jan. 4, but remains open through 7:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 15.
Though competition is stiff, the prizes are impressive: one Dayton-area winner and one global winner will be awarded a $500 prize in each of two categories – “Humor” and “Human Interest” — for a total of four prizes. The top prize will also include a free registration to the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop (valued at $400-plus).
A few rules apply: only one entry per person will be accepted; there is no age restriction; entries should be 450 words or fewer; there is an entry fee of $15. For complete guidelines, an online entry form, and more information, visit www.wclibrary.info/erma/index.asp.
The competition administration, prizes and the free registration are underwritten entirely by the competition entry fees.
“Erma Bombeck is one of the most beloved humorists of all time, and the fact that she’s from Dayton is really something to be celebrated and, I think, gives inspiration to the entire writing community here,” says Debe Dockins, community outreach and development coordinator of the Washington-Centerville Public Library and Erma Bombeck Writing Competition coordinator.
For those who might be nervous about entering a writing contest with stiff competition, Dockins says, “It’s important to remember that Erma suffered rejection as a writer, too, especially in her early life. She said, ‘It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else.’ Although it may have seemed effortless, Erma worked very hard as a writer, she practiced every day, and she just got better and better. She stuck to her tried and true formula: ‘Hook ‘em with the lead, hold ‘em with laughter. Exit with a quip they won’t forget!’ And that’s exactly the essence we ask entrants to the Erma Bombeck Writing competition to capture in their essays. We have both a humor category and a human interest category because Erma was adept at both.”
“Our entries … and our judges … come from all over the country. I think that speaks to both Erma’s legacy and to the fact that the kind of writing she really championed is as appealing to writers and readers as ever,” says Dockins who, as a teenager, was a fan of Bombeck’s work.
"I can remember, as a teenager, reading her book "If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits?" It was my mother's copy and I don't remember why I started to read it, but I do remember thinking, "Wow! This lady is so funny!" My parents had a copy of Art Linkletter's "Kids Say the Darndest Things" and Erma's book reminded me a lot of that book. I thought it was pure genius," says Dockins.
Upcoming events
• Sunday, Jan. 17, 2-3:30 p.m., Books & Co. at The Greene — The Antioch Writers’ Workshop will sponsor its first Free Mini-Writers’ Workshop of the year, on the theme of “Nuts & Bolts of Publishing,” featuring a panel of local writers and editors: April Barnswell, David Braughler, Molly Campbell, Rebecca Morean and T.J. Turner.
• Saturday, Jan. 23, 2 p.m., Wright Memorial Public Library (1776 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood) — The library will host a free event, “The Story of You: How to Write a Memoir (Even if you think you can’t write), led by Peggy Barnes, the author of the memoir “I Knew You by Name: The Search for My Lost Mother.” Barnes is a Dayton-area writer with an MFA in creative writing; many of her short stories have been published in literary magazines.
• Sunday, Jan. 24, 2 p.m., Books & Co. at The Greene — Helen Klein Ross will introduce her new novel, “What Was Mine.”
• Sunday, Jan. 24, 7 p.m. — Gem City Poetry Stage will take place at the University of Dayton’s Art Street (330 Kiefaber St.), Gallery B, starting with a featured reader and followed by an open mic for all who care to participate.
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