Napa Valley College Jessamyn West Writing Contest

 

JESSAMYN WEST 
Creative WRITING CONTEST

 

The Jessamyn West Creative Writing Contest for Napa Valley College students is on hiatus for 2026.  Click here for the 2026 Napa County High Schools Creative Writing Contest information.



The English Department of Napa Valley College invites unpublished works of short fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and multilingual writing for the 2025 Jessamyn West Creative Writing Contest. The contest is open to any Napa Valley College student enrolled on a full or part-time basis during the last twelve months.

All winners will be invited to read from their winning submissions at the Jessamyn West Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 7 from 5:30-7:30 pm in the Community Room of the McCarthy Library at Napa Valley College. 

A first prize of $150 and a second prize of $100 will be awarded in each category.

In addition, winners receive free entry to the public craft lectures and readings presented at the Napa Valley Writers’ Conference.

The deadline for receipt of entries is FRIDAY, APRIL 18, 2025 at 11:59 pm.

Entries will be screened by the English Department with final judging done by professional writers.

Click on the flyer below to get to the online entry form and submission guidelines. You will need to sign in using your NVC student email address to fill in the form.

Direct any questions to Andrea Bewick (abewick@napavalley.edu)