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WRITER'S GAMES 2024
Not your ordinary writing competition.
The Writer's Games is a free competition designed to help you improve your craft fast. ​Every accepted entry receives honest, unbiased feedback from several judges.
Writer's Games returns in 2024!
Check this year's changes
Join us on Discord
Read the Rules
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The 2024 competition is over.
Mock Event feedback was released June 10
ALL FEEDBACK for 2024 was released July 28/29
Editing notes were released Aug 26
72 Hours, vol 12, is available NOW!
2024 Survey​
Contact Theresa with questions. Registration is required for participation.
Sign up for emailed Event announcements here.
Find submissions and formatting information below.
Read the Writer's Games Origin Story on the blog
2024 Events & Winners
The top five places in each Event will be featured in
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Honorable mention entries will not be published
but author names will be included in the anthology.
Event 1: Chocolate
June 21
First Place: Angela Benham
Second Place: Alexis Ames & Elizabeth Price
Fourth Place: Cheryl King & Josephine Queen
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Honorable mentions: Alyssa Beatty & Ej Sidle
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Event 2: Go Team!
June 28
First Place: Jaime Gill
Second Place: Lindsey Odorizzi
Third Place: Laura Cody
Fourth Place: Ajay Sabhaney
Fifth Place: Kris Schnebelen & Molly Wadkins
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Honorable mentions: David Bachman & Amber Felt
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Overall Winners
First Place: Ej Sidle
Second Place: Jaime Gill
Third Place: Lisa Fox
Fourth Place: Laura Cody & Kim Holland
Sixth Place: Grace Quon
Seventh Place: Allison Rott
Eighth Place: R.A. Clarke
Ninth Place: Alyssa Beatty
Tenth Place: MM Schreier
Eleventh Place: Bea Sage
Twelfth Place: Sean Fallon
Thirteenth Place: Emily Brown
Fourteenth Place: K. Z. Richards
Fifteenth Place: Marie Price
Sixteenth Place: Katie Ess
Seventeenth Place: Haley Hwang
Eighteenth Place: Tom Sadira
Nineteenth Place: KM Shapiro
Twentieth Place: Lauren Sibley
Judges' Choice: Ashleigh Adams
"Don't Worry Baby"
These writers, as well as all Event winners and honorable mentions, have earned early registration in 2025.
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Click here for this year's survey.
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We reject religious, political, and erotic themes. Fanfiction and AI-copied content are not accepted.
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All participants must be registered.
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Please thank and follow our sponsors on X!
Premier Literary Services: @kuzitiz
Reedsy: @ReedsyHQ
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Opt IN for emailed Event announcements.
Opting in adds you to the Writer's Games mailing list only;
it does not secure registration.
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Event 3: It's a Disaster
July 5
First Place: Allison Rott
Second Place: Morgana Clark
Third Place: Keith R. Burdon
Fourth Place: Lisa Fox
Fifth Place: Jaime Gill
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Honorable mentions: EJ Howler & Ej Sidle
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Event 4: Aftermath
July 12
First Place: Ej Sidle
Second Place: Josephine Queen
Third Place: Grace Quon
Fourth Place: Alyssa Beatty
Fifth Place: Sean Fallon
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Honorable mentions: Alexis Ames, Laura Cody, & Lisa Fox
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Event 5: Literary Bingo
July 19
First Place: Roxanne Kalinda
Second Place: Elizabeth Price
Third Place: Brandon Cox
Fourth Place: John Selden
Fifth Place: Kim Holland
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Honorable mentions: David Klotzkin & Bea Sage
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What people say about Writer's Games:
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Submissions & Formatting
All entries must follow these submissions guidelines. During Games, we deduct points for incorrect formatting because many publications reject incorrectly formatted submissions without informing you.
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All Practice Event entries receive formatting notes to help you keep your points during scored Events.
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Arial or Times New Roman, size 10 or 12pt, black
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Single spaced
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1" empty margins on all four sides
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0.5" (12.7mm) or Tab indentations for all paragraphs
Please do not use the spacebar to indent
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Empty line for scene breaks
Entries must include the proper Title Information at the start of the document, aligned left. Please do not add your Title Info to the header margin.
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Name or Pseudonym
Title of Entry
Event Name
Word Count
Entries without these four lines in this order in your document will be disqualified from the Event but the writer is still eligible to compete and win. Learn more about what this means on the Games FAQ. Please note the email address is not required for Writer's Games entries.
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Accepted file types: .doc, .docx, .odt
Live, unlocked Google Docs or Microsoft Word links are accepted via email (submissions [at] writersworkout.net). Set your document permissions to "anyone with the link can [comment or edit]" so we can collect it. We will not request access and we are not responsible for locked docs.
Email entries to submissions [at] writersworkout.net
OR use our DropBox.
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The Writer's Workout is a global charity working to improve literacy through creative writing. We hold competitions, workshops, open calls, and discussions; provide motivation, tips, prompts, and giveaways; and offer a community rich in culture and skill. Check our donations page to learn more about how The Writer's Workout strengthens the writing community.
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Learn what it takes to produce one portion of The Writer's Games.
The Writer's Workout is a registered
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
run by volunteers.
The idea for The Writer's Games (originally dubbed the NaNoGames) came from Heather Glomb. The first Games took place in May, 2014, with a goal to "just write". When the contest finished, writers wanted a stronger challenge and this organization was born.
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Read about the first Games here.