Thank you for entering the 2026 Moore County Writers’ Competition
Since 1986, Weymouth Center has hosted the Annual Moore County Writers’ Competition that seeks to promote writing throughout Moore County and honor the work that goes into creating superior writing.
2026 COMPETITION GUIDELINES
SUBMIT YOUR BEST FICTION, NONFICTION, OR POETRY WORKS BY FEBRUARY 20, 2026.
Awards Ceremony: Sunday, April 12, 2026 at 2:00PM at Weymouth Center, 555 E. Connecticut Avenue in Southern Pines. Each winner will have an opportunity to read a portion of their entry, so please come prepared.
- The competition is open to adult residents (18 yrs and older) of Moore County, NC.
- All entries must be the original work of the contestant and not published or broadcast previously in any format or medium.
- Submissions using artificial intelligence or automated writing tools are prohibited.
- Only one entry per category (poetry, fiction, non-fiction) per contestant is permitted.
Category Guidelines (Updated for 2026):
Poetry
- Limit of 40 lines per poem 300 words (not including title).
- Acceptable forms include free verse, narrative, and classical, but all must stay within the line limit.
- Only one poem may be submitted.
Fiction
- Limit of 3,000 words per story.
- All genres and styles are allowed.
- Only one short story may be submitted.
Non-fiction
- Limit of 3,000 words per piece.
- Acceptable formats include memoir, essay, and other literary non-fiction.
- Only one non-fiction piece may be submitted.
- Judges are independent professionals in literary fields, and entries will be considered anonymously to ensure fairness.
- Authors are encouraged to carefully proofread submissions for grammar, spelling, and clarity before submitting.
- All entries should be emailed separately to Julie@weymouthcenter.org, mailed to PO Box 939 Southern Pines, NC 28388, or hand delivered to 555 E Connecticut Ave, Southern Pines by 4:00 pm on February 20, 2026.
- Email submissions should have: MCWC, the name of the work and the genre in the subject line (eg: MCWC “The Raven”, Poetry).
- There should be no email attachments. Please drop your copy into the body of the email in order to assist with ease of submitting anonymous works to the judges.
- Include your name, title, genre, word count, phone number, and address in your email with all submissions..
Cash prizes are awarded to first, second, and third place winners; honorable mentions receive a certificate.
The following awards will be presented for each age group within each entry category: First Place $100, Second Place $50, Third Place $25.
Winners will be contacted via email.
Cover page only needed for entries mailed or dropped off at the Boyd House!
Please include all requested entry information in the body copy of your email with the piece itself dropped into the body of the email as previously stated.
- Entries exceeding the stated word or line limits may be disqualified without review.
- Winners will be contacted and announced through the official Weymouth Center channels.
- Entries must be received by the posted deadline; late submissions will not be considered.
- Respect for copyright and intellectual property is essential—entries must be original, unpublished works created by the participant.
Thank you for your assistance in making this writing competition a success! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Weymouth Center front office, at 910-692-6261 or email: julie@weymouthcenter.org.