Escondido Writers Group Annual Writing Competition

Overview

The Escondido Writer's Group Writing Competition is an annual event highlighting writers' intellectual and creative accomplishments in Escondido and North San Diego County. It allows writers to submit either fiction or nonfiction works to a panel of judges who are published authors. Winning prizes and certificates are given to the top three winners. 

Submission Rules

Submit your fiction or nonfiction (excluding poetry) writing during the submission period: January 2nd, 2026 - January 30th, 2026; 5:00pm PST. The winners will be recognized and awarded at the Escondido Writers Group the month following the end of submissions. Every entry must stand on its own merits. This contest is open to anyone aged 18 and up. Judges will not give special dispensation or more liberal consideration for youth entries. Library staff and any group facilitators are not eligible to submit stories. Stories that have won prizes from other contests are not eligible. Entrants should be from the San Diego County area or participate in the Escondido Writer's Group. 

Entries should be:

• Typed or in electronic format
• 2500-word limit, NO EXCEPTIONS
• Double-spaced, one-inch margins
• Sent as a document with only the story's title at the top right corner of each page - without the writer's name! 
• It must be accompanied by a separate cover sheet with the story's title, writer's name, phone number, and email. Note: The cover sheet cannot be attached to the story in any way, or the entry can be disqualified without notice. 
• Submit your story to: tanyarossauthor@gmail.com or john.archer@escondidolibrary.org. You can also bring it to the Information Desk as a physical copy. 

The winners will be recognized and awarded at the Escondido Writer's Group on March 17th, 2026 at the bimonthly Writer's Group meeting.

All entries are ‘blind’ read by the following Judges who are published writers.