2026 Contest Results
You made us want to read more!
Theme: “Make Us Want to Read More” -- We asked for great opening lines/scenes in fiction and non-fiction (maximum 300 words) as well as the best in short(er) poetry (two pages or less).
The winners of our second biennial writing contest for 2026:
Fiction: Phoebe Shang (Orange County) “The Fifth Inclusion” WINNER
Kristen Bodie (Mount Diablo) “But I'm Not a Detective” HONORABLE MENTION
Lauren Woo (Sacramento) “The Beauty Queen” HONORABLE MENTION
Poetry: Ron Sacchi (Mount Diablo) “SPRING" WINNER
Ron Sacchi (Mount Diablo) “The Cheat” HONORABLE MENTION
Essay/
Memoir: Jim Wolff (San Fernando Valley) “Roots of My Discontent” WINNER
Colleen Dolan (Marin) “Legally Blind” HONORABLE MENTION
Judy Davis (SF Peninsula) “Killing Papi” HONORABLE MENTION
Click here to read the winning and honorable mention entries.
Our Past Winners
The winners of our first biennial writing contest for 2024:
Fiction: E. J. McBride (San Fernando Valley) “End of the Road.” WINNER
Todd Whiteley (SJVW) “Eye of the Beholder” HONORABLE MENTION
D. L. LaRoche (South Bay) “Perfect Teeth” HONORABLE MENTION
Poetry: Melissa Huntington (Orange County) “A View of Tahiti” WINNER
Pamela Pan (SJVW) “Wonton Soup” HONORABLE MENTION
Click here to read the winning entries, "End of the Road" and "A View of Tahiti."
No award was given this year in the category of Memoir/Creative Nonfiction. All submissions were blinded and anonymously judged. The winning submissions are also available in our 2025 anthology.