⏳ Weekly Writing Contest | June 15: First Read
This week's guest judge is Tommy Heller, Chapter Lead of Reading Rhythms. Submit your entry by Friday, June 20 at 12pm ET/5pm BST.
Welcome to the Weekly Writers' Hour Contest!
This week’s challenge invites you to revisit the magic of a first encounter with a book that moved you.
*PLUS* Three paid subscribers will receive feedback on their submission. Read more below.
PROMPT
First Read: Write about a book you wish you could read again for the first time. Revisit that first encounter. How did it shape you?
We’re less interested in book summaries, and more drawn to the experience of that first read. What did the book awaken or reveal? We want the details and the intimacy of that memory.
Unpublished pieces of 500 words or less in any genre are eligible.
Submissions are due by Friday, June 20th, at 5pm BST / 12pm ET.
Keep reading for more information on prizes and FAQs – plus an introduction to this week’s guest judge, Tommy Heller, Chapter Lead of Reading Rhythms.
Happy writing!
The Writers’ Hour Magazine Team
Meet Our Guest Judge: Tommy Heller
Tommy Heller is a writer and reader based in Brooklyn, NY. He gravitates toward cerebral, emotionally resonant work that engages with big ideas; his favorite novel is Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. When not writing or reading, he enjoys biking, hiking, watching films, and spending time with friends and loved ones. Tommy is also a chapter lead for Reading Rhythms.
About Reading Rhythms
Reading Rhythms is a global community where readers bring their own books to reading parties, allowing space for individual reading followed by conversations that foster both personal exploration and shared experiences around storytelling. It's the perfect way to spend time reading while meeting new friends! To learn more about Reading Rhythms and check out a full calendar of events, visit their website.
A Note from Tommy
As you're drafting your piece, don't just tell us about the experience—show us what it felt like. Dive into the emotion, the wonder, the longing for that original sense of discovery.
This is an opportunity to swing big and stand out! Be creative in your approach. Perhaps you might consider what would happen if you told this story from an unexpected angle: maybe you mimic the author's voice, experiment with different perspectives, or even reframe the narrative as if it’s happening right now.
The magic of rereading isn’t just about revisiting a book, it’s about the feeling of newness and transformation. Can you capture that sense of novelty, not just in your words, but in your approach to telling us about it? Let us into the experience of first discovery and make us feel what it’s like to fall in love with a book all over again. We want to hear your voice, fresh and bold, taking a literary risk to share a story that only you could tell.
And break a leg! :)
How to Submit:
Submissions should be made through our online submission platform, Submittable, and formatted as a Word Doc.
For more details, please read the full Contest Guidelines.
The winning entries will receive:
First Prize:
$65 USD (£50 GBP)
Publication in Writers’ Hour Magazine
3-months of London Writers’ Salon Silver Membership (£79 value)
Commemorative Writers’ Hour trophy mug
Second Prize:
Publication in Writers’ Hour Magazine
1-month of London Writers’ Salon Silver Membership (£29 value)
Third Prize:
Publication in Writers’ Hour Magazine
FAQs:
What genres can I write in?
All genres - fiction, nonfiction, poetry, etc - are welcome.Is there a word limit?
Your piece must be 500 words or less. Pieces that exceed this will not be considered. There is no minimum word limit.Do I need to submit in a specific format?
Please follow the instructions outlined in the Contest Guidelines.When is the deadline to submit?
Submissions are due by Friday, June 20 at 5pm BST / 12pm ET / 9am PT. Submissions received outside this window will not be considered.When will the winner be announced?
The winner will be contacted via Submittable, and the winning entries will be published in Writers’ Hour Magazine by Saturday, July 5th.Can I submit a piece I’ve already published?
Only previously unpublished pieces are eligible for this contest. (Published means anything that has already been made publicly available in print or online.)Can I use AI tools (like ChatGPT) to help write my contest submission?
No. We do not accept any AI-assisted writing for contest entries. All submissions must be the author’s original work and human-generated. Use of AI will disqualify you from this and any future contests.
Is there a fee to submit?
No, there is no fee to submit. However you must be subscribed to Writers’ Hour Magazine in order for your submission to be considered.
Congratulations to the winners of A Truth Between Strangers!
We are thrilled to share the contest results for the week of May 25. Writers were invited to step into the electric space between strangers. Special thanks once again to our guest judge,
.First Place: Call for a Blow Job by
Second Place: In 1992 by Taryn Butler
Third Place: Departures by Grace “West” Lyde
Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who participated. It’s a pleasure to share these pieces with you, and we can’t wait to see what you create in the next contest!
PS - Write with us at Writers’ Hour
Come work on your submission at Writers' Hour—our daily silent writing sprints—where writers from around the world come together to work on their projects. It’s the perfect environment to focus, share space with other writers, and make progress on your contest entry.
PPS - 🌞 ‘Summer of Creative Joy’ is Back!
Join
and for Summer of Creative Joy, a five-week program designed to help you reconnect with the pleasure of creating during the long, golden days ahead. Expect playful prompts, community check-ins, and the encouragement to follow your most joyful creative impulses. No pressure, just possibility. Kickoff: Sunday, June 29th.👉 Join the Summer of Creative Joy Interest List
🔒 *New* Paid Subscriber Perk: Editorial Feedback Lottery
This week, three paid subscribers will be chosen at random to receive personalized feedback from our editorial team on their contest submission.
How to enter the feedback lottery: