Congratulations to the 2026 Wapsie Writing Contest Winners: Piper Hayden, 11 (child), Waterloo, IA, “Beauty Standards (that consume me)”; Michael Aviña, 17 (youth), Waterloo, IA, “The Hamster”; and Vicki Starks (adult), West Union, IA, “The Time is Here”. Read the winning entries here. Each has a backstory:

The idea for “The Hamster” came from Michael Aviña’s life experiences. “The story follows a father who chooses to live in a cage for his whole life, which symbolizes emotional unavailability. I think it’s interesting how someone you love and interact with every day can feel so distant at the same time. I wanted the reader to feel uncomfortable but also a little amused at how bizarre the situation is.”

Vicki Starks chose to write her story to take others on a journey and share her love of nature and the beauty of fall in the Northwoods. “I actually wrote parts of this story a few years ago during an annual fall trip up north. I was enjoying the quiet, peaceful days and watching the wildlife when something inside compelled me to start journaling my daily observations. I have always loved to write, and I dreamed of being a writer when I was younger. When I saw the posting in our local newspaper about the Wapsie Writing Contest, I knew I needed to enter and complete that goal for myself. So, I found those journaled notes I had written up north, created my short story, and submitted my first-ever written piece. I am extremely honored to be chosen as the winner in the adult category of the 2026 Wapsie Writing Contest.”

Contest Rules:  The goal of the annual Wapsie Writing Contest is to encourage children, youth, and adults to write more and improve their creative writing skills. The ability to convey ideas through narrative and writing is a fundamental skill in many fields – even in this new era of ChatGPT and artificial intelligence. Submissions for the annual contest are accepted January 1st through midnight March 15. Adults (19 and older), youth (12-18 years), and children (11 years and younger) are invited to submit a never-before-published short story or poetry—fiction or non-fiction—about a subject matter of their choosing. The length must be 100 to 1,500 words. Only one entry per person is allowed. Entries must be submitted in MS Word. Send your typed entry with your name, phone number, and age category to bbpassick@comcast.net. A panel of judges will evaluate entries based on the most creative and original, and demonstrated quality of beauty and intensity of emotion for their age category. Beginning in 2025, winners will receive a certificate and a small cash prize, plus their stories and/or poems will be submitted for publication to regional newspapers.
Seven Vital Elements Every Story Must Have; 10 Elements of Good Poetry

Keynote Speaker

By about age 9, I found I enjoyed writing, then it became my ally in getting through difficult times… when I couldn’t tell ‘up from down’. Simply said, writing helped me see the truth in those experiences — and gave me hope. (how writing saved me)
(I liken my writing experience to: Watch Sunday Morning: NPR’s Ari Shapiro on journalism and cabaret – Full show on CBS.)

Writing Workshops

“Writing a Novel” (90 mins.): How did I come to write the historical crime novels in the Gangster Series? (There’s an interesting story behind each book.) Topic(s) Covered: No prior experience required. Program covers crime novel writing basics, plus brief intro to publishing and marketing. Audience: Customized for group interest. Outcome: Learn from an award-winning author the basics of crime novel writing. 

“Writing a Memoir” (90 mins.): Whether you wish to write a memoir of under 10 pages — or 400 pages, like mine, We Are Eight, a Memoriam (2015) — your family will treasure it just as much. Instruction: Research, Interviews, Personal Stories, Genealogy, Photos, Permissions — and more. Outcome: Attendees are provided with the tools (instruction/handouts) to create a memoir to be proud of.

Journaling  (90 mins.): Beginning in childhood, I kept a journal for over 20 years. Keeping a journal proved to be great training for a career as an author of books, short stories, and poetry. Outcome: Students are provided with journals and instruction on recording their life stories through writing, drawing, photos, and mapping.

© 2017 Betty Brandt Passick. All rights reserved.