⏳ Weekly Writing Contest | November 3: Sacred Flavors

Submit your entry by Friday November 8, 5pm GMT / 12pm ET / 9am PT

Artwork by Emma Winterschladen

Welcome to the Weekly Writers' Hour Contest!

This week’s prompt invites you to explore a place through flavor and memory.

Prompt: Sacred Flavors

Choose a sacred or meaningful place—real or imagined—and create a recipe inspired by it.

Interpret the idea of a recipe as loosely as you like. This could be literal with ingredients and instructions, or metaphorical – a blend of elements, feelings, or steps that capture the essence of your chosen place.

Unpublished pieces of 500 words or less in any genre are eligible for this contest.

Submissions are due by Friday, November 8th at 5pm GMT / 12pm ET / 9am PT

Keep reading below for more information on prizes and FAQs – plus an introduction to this week’s guest judge, Jody Eddy.

Happy writing!
The Writers’ Hour Magazine Team

Meet Our Guest Judge: Jody Eddy

Jody Eddy

’s writing has been published in Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure, the Wall Street Journal, and elsewhere. She was the editor of Art Culinaire, has cooked at the Fat Duck and Jean-Georges, and lives in northern Spain.

Her latest book, Elysian Kitchens: Recipes Inspired by the Traditions and Tastes of the World's Sacred Spaces, is a lushly photographed cookbook showcasing the intersection of culture, spirituality, and cuisine.

A Note from our Editorial Team:

As you approach this prompt, consider how you might express the spirit of a place through taste.

What flavors capture it? How might textures or aromas convey its mood?

There’s no need to create a conventional recipe, though you’re welcome to if you wish. Blend storytelling and sensory experience in a way that honors the place you’ve chosen.

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.

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The winning entries will receive:

First Prize:

• $100 USD (about £75 GBP)

• Publication in Writers’ Hour Magazine

• 3-month complimentary London Writers’ Salon Silver Membership

• Commemorative Writers’ Hour trophy mug

Second Prize:

• Publication in Writers’ Hour Magazine

• 1-month complimentary London Writers’ Salon Silver Membership

Third Prize:

• Publication in Writers’ Hour Magazine

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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.

• What does it mean to choose a sacred or meaningful place? You might choose a location tied to your heritage, a memorable spot from your travels, somewhere close to your heart, or even an imagined landscape.

• Does it have to be a traditional recipe format? Your submission can be as traditional or as creative as you like. If the piece you create calls for poetic or storytelling elements, weave them in.

• 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, November 8 at 5pm GMT / 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 entry will be published in Writers’ Hour Magazine by Saturday, November 23rd.

• 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.)

• 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 winners of Prompt Portrait of a Room!

We are thrilled to share the results of the contest for the week of October 13. Writers were tasked with writing a vivid portrait of a room. Special thanks to our guest judge,

Penny Wincer

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• First Place: “Common Scents” by Pam Makin

• Second Place: “At Home at Nine Twelve” by

  Rebecca A. Clay

• Third Place: “The Lab Room” by Helen Stutchbury

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 - November courses at London Writers’ Salon

This month, we're bringing together intimate cohorts of writers, each led by expert instructors, to help you make progress on your writing goals.

• 🗒️ Craft Compelling Personal Essays: Write Narratives That Move Readers - Kicks off Nov 6

• 📕 Outline to 10K: From Rough Outline to Your First 10,000 Words - Kicks off Nov 11

Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot and get ready to write with a dedicated community by your side!

PPS - Write with us

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.