2024 Contest Winners

Write On The River and the Wenatchee Museum and Cultural Center are pleased to announce the judges’ top six picks in the 2024 Writers Competition. Chosen from the largest field of highly competitive entries in several years, these six writers share $1200 in cash awards and are invited to be guest readers at the May 22 Four Minutes of Fame open mic at the museum.

 

FICTION:

First Place: L. Burton Brender of Cashmere for “The Platoon Sergeant.”
Second Place: Denise Ottosen of Spokane for “The Store Sign.”
Third Place:  Melissa Cate of East Wenatchee for “The Chair of Hidden Journeys.”

​

NONFICTION:

First Place: Peter O’Cain of Wenatchee for “Drill Instructor, drill instructor, drill instructor.”
Second Place: David Asia of Twisp for “The Beast in Moonlight.”
Third Place: Rachael Lundin of Wenatchee for “Mongolian Love Letters.” 

​

The Writers Competition has similarly honored 86 regional writers since its inception in 2008. Judges and responders for this year’s competition, avid readers and writers all, were Michele Peters, Matthew Pippin, Petra Hernandez, Mike Irwin, Susan Sampson, Teri Fink, John Taylor, Susan Lagsdin, Linda Reid and Zach Eddy.
 

The competition limits writers to 1000 words of a finished piece or the start of a longer work, which are judged on clarity, depth and impact. In addition to cash prizes, the annual competition offers writers the option of three independent critiques of their submitted work.

Learn about the writers and read their submissions below!