The competition’s mission is to aid Utah writers on their path to publication and broader recognition.
2026 Utah Original Writing Competition
Since 1958, the Utah Division of Arts & Museums (UA&M) has operated the Utah Original Writing Competition (UOWC), awarding Utah writers for works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in a variety of forms. The UOWC’s mission is to aid Utah writers on their path to publication and broaderrecogn ition. Submissions must be original works and, with some exceptions, cannot be published or accepted for publication at the time of entry. Manuscripts are reviewed in a blind process by judges selected from outside of Utah. There is no entry fee, and it is open to all Utah residents age 18 and over.
The UOWC features seven categories. Four of those are for book-length manuscripts and cover fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and books for children and young adults. The other three categories are for a short poetry collection, a short story, or an essay.
The 2026 UOWC will Open in May 2026 (please check back for more information and submission link).
2025 Utah Original Writing Competition Winners
In 2025, twenty-one writers were selected as winners in seven categories of the 66th annual Utah Original Writing Competition, by the Utah Division of Arts & Museums and the Salt Lake Community College Community Writing Center. Manuscripts were reviewed in an anonymous process by judges who reside outside of Utah. First- and second-place winners were awarded prize money ranging from $250 to $1,500, depending on the category.
A private event celebrating Utah writers and the Original Writing Competition was held on November 12, 2025, from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. There was an awards ceremony and readings by previous competition winners. Past winners of the Utah Original Writing Competition include four past Utah Poets Laureate, including David Lee, Ken Brewer, Katharine Coles, and Lance Larsen.
Category A: Novel, judged by Meg Elison
• First Place: "Recipient," by Anna Bessesen, Murray
• Second Place: "To the Right of the Moon," by BJ Eardley, Moab
• Honorable Mention: "The Secret Guest Book of the Inn-Between," by Robert Vicens, Salt Lake City
Category B: Creative Nonfiction Book, judged by A. Kendra Greene
• First Place: "Reverence Is Resistance: Stories & Spells from a Lake-led Movement," by Savannah Pearson, Salt Lake City
• Second Place: "Pretend It Never Happened," by Carolyn Campbell and Karin Krueger, Salt Lake City
• Honorable Mention: "History of an IED Hunter," by Melissa Hansen, Woods Cross
Category C: Poetry Collection, judged by Ina Cariño
• First Place: "Somewhere Horses," by Jasmine Khaliq, Salt Lake City
• Second Place: "We Are Milkweed," by Kim Welliver, Salt Lake City
• Honorable Mention: "Hand-drawn Maps from Memory," by Lesley Hart Gunn, Provo
Category D: Children's Book, judged by Claire Taylor
• First Place: "The Summer of Grandma's Dolls," by Louise Hurd, North Ogden
• Second Place: "One Way or Another," by Sharlee Glenn, Pleasant Grove
• Honorable Mention: "Merit & Lu: The Case of the Sticky Wicket," by Libby Ludlow, Park City
Category E: Poetry, judged by Heather Lang-Cassera
• First Place: "Trying on New Gods," by Erica Plummer, South Jordan
• Second Place: "Brimming," by Katherine January, Bountiful
• Honorable Mention: "Dearly Beloved, Orion Caught in a Dead Spruce, Willow, Rural Cemetery, Santa Monica Pier, Biomass 1-4," by Joe Roberts, Salt Lake City
Category F: Short Story, judged by A.C. Wise
• First Place: "The Trial," by Abigail Rose-Marie, Spanish Fork
• Second Place: "The Fishhusband of Stinking Water," by Christian Loftus, Kaysville
• Honorable Mention: "Faith in a .44," by C.K. Turner, Sandy
Category G: Creative Nonfiction Essay, judged by Tyler Orion Glauz-Todrank
• First Place: "Skylab and Feather," by Cheyenne Nimes, Salt Lake City
• Second Place: "Manners," by Abigail Rose-Marie, Spanish Fork
• Honorable Mention: "Children of the Birds," by Chloe Scheve, West Valley City
About Utah Arts & Museums
Utah Arts & Museums (UA&M) seeks to advance Utahns’ quality of life through arts and museum experiences and cultural opportunities. We are a service organization offering a variety of professional development opportunities and grants to serve our constituents. We serve schools, local arts agencies, organizations, community centers, performing groups, museums, and individuals across Utah.
