2022 AWARD CYCLE is now closed.
The judges have completed their reviews but were unable to score any entry high enough to qualify for the 2022 residency prize. This is the very first time we’ve encountered this situation. All applicants have had their entry fees refunded.
We anticipate re-opening the competition later this year and will send a notice of the exact dates so all previous entrants will have an equal chance to re-enter work for review.
If you decide to reapply, we’d ask that you not re-submit the same writing sample as previously submitted but either a new sample or an extensively revised version of your original sample.
We strongly encourage you to take the time to ask your writing colleagues to check over any new sample submission, and to edit as well as you can any new writing sample you might create.
Please remember that we allow applicants to submit writing samples that have been previously published and/or professionally edited.
Looking forward to seeing more of your work in the future,
The Daisy Pettles’ Writing House Committee
For information on past finalists, winners and women writers in residence >>>>>>
SEE > Finalists List June 2020
SEE > Finalists List July 2020
SEE > Finalist List January 2021
SEE > Writer in Residence June 2020 – Teri Carter
SEE > Writer in Residence July 2020 – Sharon May
SEE > Writer in Residence March 2021 – Nancy Fowler
Daisy Pettles Women’s Writing Competition Awards 2022:
Grand Prize — $1000 Cash Grant Award and 1 month of expense-free living at the Daisy Pettles Writer’s House (a $2,500 value), PLUS a Certificate as Writer in Residence in the Daisy Pettles House vintage 1920s arts and craft bungalow for the year awarded. Prize winner may CHOOSE which month in 2022 they wish to occupy the house once the winner is announced. Due to COVID, the winner may elect NOT to attend the house residency in 2022. All cash prizes will still be awarded.
1st Runner-Up: $200 Cash Award Grant; PLUS Award Certificate as Finalist – Writer in Residence at the Daisy Pettles House for the year awarded; PLUS if for any reason a Grand Prize Winner is unable to attend a residency the house residency will be offered to the Runner-Up.
2nd Runner-Up: $75 Cash Award Grant; PLUS Award Certificate as Finalist – Writer in Residence at the Daisy Pettles House for the year awarded.
WRITING RESIDENCY AWARD AND PRIZE CYCLES 2022
Application Deadline: December 12, 2021
Awards Announcement Date: January 15, 2022
APPLY for the Daisy Pettles Women’s Writing Awards and Prizes NOW
Women Writer’s Contest Competition Eligibility
Women writers who are age 40 or older at the time of application: NO publication history necessary, but applicants must be able to submit up to 20 pages of a work in progress for judging, along with a 500-word statement summarizing your vision and goals for the work, along with a 500-word statement of financial need or how the award will help you, the writer, complete the project. Retired and late bloomers who always wanted to write are welcome. The residency award supports fiction (commercial or literary); AND non-fiction (journalism, memoirs, investigative reporting, historical research — all forms of creative non-fiction — are eligible). All written forms, including dramatic TV and movie scripts or radio podcast scripting or songwriting are welcome.
Only poetry is excluded in the 2021 cycle because the program does not yet have poetry criteria or judges.
Women’s Writing Awards Criteria
1) The first and strongest criteria is writing talent. Each applicant must submit up to 20 pages of a work in progress or a sample work portfolio (Times New Roman double spaced, 12 pt) for review (please note that applicants need not be published; the submitted work itself will be judged on stand-alone merit);
2) The second criteria is the need for financial and retreat support. The applicant must submit a 500 word statement that outlines how the residency will make a critical difference in their ability to work on a master project that might otherwise go uncompleted due to every day worries and obligations;
3) All applicants must also submit a resume or work statement that outlines their education, job and career and award history for the previous decade (applicants need not have any formal education in writing to apply.)
If the applicant lacks a formal 10-year work history outside the home they should submit whatever education / work history might be available or relevant.
APPLICATION FEE
$45-$0. Applicants with FINANCIAL HARDSHIP may apply for a full or partial fee waiver (SEE FAQS). Application fees provide the crowdfunding needed to support the house–utilities, yard care, Internet, etc.,–as a financial haven for mature and emerging women writers in need of a safe retreat and financial support while writing and researching their master works.
(NOTE: If you wish to support the Writing House and the FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FUND donate to this project on Daisy’s GO FUND ME PAGE.)
Below are some noteworthy links on WHY women writers need your support:
