Snowbound Writers’ Contest

Entries for the 2025 Auburn Arts Commission Inc. Snowbound Writers’ Contest are no longer being accepted. All previously submitted entries are currently being judged and an announcement of winners will be announced once completed.

This Year’s Judge is Blake Sebring

This year’s Snowbound judging is being provided by Blake Sebring. A native of Fort Wayne, Blake Sebring covered the Fort Wayne Komets' beat for 28 seasons, more than 1,500 games, and is one of only four men to cover the team over 60 years for The News-Sentinel. He started working at The News-Sentinel at age 15. He has written for newspapers, magazines and conducted thousands of radio and TV interviews, and has written 17 books based on sports, biographies, faith, novels and mysteries. Blake currently works as the News Center director at Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Categories and Prices

Entries will be accepted from January 3 to February 28, 2025. Prizes will be awarded in two categories:

  • Fiction (short stories) not exceed 2,000 words.

  • Poetry, of 20 lines or less.

Prizes will be awarded for each category

  • First place: $150

  • Second place: $75

  • Third place: $50

Entrants may enter both categories but may submit no more than three poems and one short story. A first-place winner may not enter the same category for a period of two years, but may submit in another category.

If a person wins more than one award in a category, the prize will be awarded for the entry earning the higher number of points from the judge(s), and the entrant's next highest points will be recognized as the next-place winner. Judges may select to award an honorable mention, but the designation does not qualify to receive a monetary award.

Submission Guidelines

Submit two copies of each entry along with one cover sheet listing the entries you are submitting, giving titles and classifications (poetry or short story). Include your name, address, phone number, and email address, if available. The name of the author must not appear on the actual entry, only on the cover page. Material should be double-spaced or 1/15-spaced and be typewritten or computer-generated on white paper. No artwork is to be included. Manuscripts will not be returned. For publication purposes on the Auburn Arts Commission website, winners should be able to provide their work electronically.