Studying for Success: Lessons from Writer’s Digest Annual Competition Winners
- Nov 14, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 15, 2025
The Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition has long been a platform for recognizing and celebrating exceptional literary talent. Each year, writers from around the globe submit their best work, vying for the opportunity to gain recognition, publication, and valuable feedback. Among the many categories, the competition honors remarkable poetry—both rhyming and non-rhyming—showcasing the depth and diversity of creative expression.
For aspiring poets and writers, studying the works of past winners is not just a source of inspiration but also a practical strategy. These winning entries provide valuable insights into what resonates with judges, from thematic depth and originality to technical precision and emotional impact. By analyzing past winners, you can better understand how to craft stories and poems that stand out, capturing the attention of both readers and judges.
Whether you're aiming to submit to the next competition or refine your craft, these examples offer a roadmap to excellence and a glimpse into the creativity that defines the Writer's Digest Annual Writing Competition. Let the works of these celebrated poets and writers guide you as you craft your own standout submissions.
93rd Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition (2024)
Grand Prize Winner:
"Botched" by Matt Strempel (Humor)
Category Winners:
Memoir/Personal Essay: "Cupcakes and Eternity" by Kristin Eck
Nonfiction Essay or Article: "Rational Drug Design: Gertrude Elion and Her Medicines That Changed the World" by Leonardo Chung
Mainstream/Literary Short Story: "Offline Friend" by Angie St. John
Genre Short Story: "Good Reason" by Jillian Grant Shoichet
Children’s/Young Adult Fiction: "Choosing Week" by Ruth Scharff-Hansen
Inspirational/Spiritual Essay: "Mystical Messages" by Grace Ryan
Humor: "Imperfect Endings" by Judith Carlough
Rhyming Poetry: "Inexorable" by Sarah Costin
Non-Rhyming Poetry: "His Name Was Yitzhak" by Redd Ryder
92nd Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition (2023)
Grand Prize Winner:
"Her Teeth Marks Bones" by K.B. Winecap (Mainstream/Literary Short Story)
Category Winners:
Memoir/Personal Essay: "Details and Aftershocks" by Gretchen Ayoub
Nonfiction Essay or Article: "Batgirl's Last Ride" by Nancie Erhard
Mainstream/Literary Short Story: "Her Teeth Marks Bones" by K.B. Winecap
Genre Short Story: "The Last Resort" by John Doe
Children’s/Young Adult Fiction: "Never Read Alone" by Kathleen Jacobs
Inspirational/Spiritual Essay: "One Mourning in Moore Haven" by Brian Wedlake
Humor: "For Better or For Louse" by Emily Hampson
Rhyming Poetry: "Elocution Lesson" by Mary-Jane Holmes
Non-Rhyming Poetry: "The Souls" by E.M. Schorb
91st Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition (2022)
Grand Prize Winner:
"The Lasso" by Caitlin Brady (Mainstream/Literary Short Story)
Category Winners:
Memoir/Personal Essay: "Before I Forget" by Pamela Cravez
Nonfiction Essay or Article: "Hacking 'Absolutely Positive'" by Suzanne Lezotte
Mainstream/Literary Short Story: "The Lasso" by Caitlin Brady
Genre Short Story: "The Anachronistic Heart" by Joe Frye
Children’s/Young Adult Fiction: "The Mother Goose Diner" by Thomas Donahue
Inspirational/Spiritual Essay: "Pop" by Henry Hack
Humor: "Imperfect Endings" by Judith Carlough
Rhyming Poetry: 1st Place: "Inexorable" by Sarah Costin
Non-Rhyming Poetry: "His Name Was Yitzhak" by Redd Ryder
90th Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition (2021)
Grand Prize Winner:
"Pop" by Henry Hack (Inspirational/Spiritual)
Category Winners:
Memoir/Personal Essay: "South of That" by Curt Klinghoffer
Nonfiction Essay or Article: "Hacking 'Absolutely Positive'" by Suzanne Lezotte
Mainstream/Literary Short Story: "The Lasso" by Caitlin Brady
Genre Short Story: "The Anachronistic Heart" by Joe Frye
Children’s/Young Adult Fiction: "The Mother Goose Diner" by Thomas Donahue
Inspirational/Spiritual Essay: "Pop" by Henry Hack
Humor: "Imperfect Endings" by Judith Carlough
Rhyming Poetry: "The Last Time" by Melissa Cannon
Non-Rhyming Poetry: "Bathing", by Kathryn Winograd
The Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition is truly a journey toward literary excellence. By studying the works of past winners, you gain invaluable insights into what makes a piece resonate with readers and judges alike. Whether you’re crafting poetry, short stories, or essays, these examples illuminate the path to creating work that is both authentic and impactful.
Let the successes of those who came before inspire you to refine your voice, polish your craft, and push creative boundaries. With dedication, originality, and a commitment to growth, your work could be the next to stand among the winners, earning recognition and leaving a lasting mark on the literary world. Start writing, start revising, and start dreaming big—your story deserves to be told.
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