Enter the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition!
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DAYTON, Ohio - OhioPen -- It's time to put your best writing on the line. As Erma Bombeck once wrote, "It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else." Washington-Centerville Public Library will accept submissions for the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition Dec. 2-Jan. 6.

Four first-place winners — one in each local and global category of humor and human-interest writing — will receive a $1,000 cash prize, free registration to the sold-out March 26–28, 2026, Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop at the University of Dayton and publication of their essays online and in the workshop program. A select number of honorable mentions will be awarded $100 and online publication. Winners will be notified in mid-February.

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Writers from anywhere in the world are encouraged to submit an original, previously unpublished 450-word essay. The entry fee is $25, with a reduced rate of $15 for high school and college students to encourage emerging writers.

Dozens of authors, columnists, creative writing teachers, screenwriters, editors and stand-up comics will read and evaluate the entries during preliminary and second rounds of judging. Betsy Bombeck, Erma's daughter, will judge the finalists in the humor category, while bestselling author and journalist Beth Macy will evaluate the finalists in the human-interest category. For contest rules and to submit entries, visit the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition website at https://www.wclibrary.info/erma/.