Next Chapter Writing Contest - Adults

About This Project

Be Heard. Enter Our Flash Fiction & Poetry Contest

LA County Library is hosting our first Next Chapter Writers' Summit on Oct 5, 2025. In an effort to uplift underrepresented voices in the writing field, this years' program will celebrate LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC Voices. As a part of this program, the Library invites aspiring writers to enter our 2025 Next Chapter Flash Fiction and Poetry Contest by submitting an original poem or short story (750 words max) for a chance to win a cash prize, and a 30 minute virtual consultation with a literary agent. In addition to their prizes, winners will also have their winning work featured on LA County Library’s BiblioBoard for 1 year.

The Library will select one adult winner in the Poetry category and one adult winner in the Short Story category.

Must be 18 or older to enter the contest. For Teen writers (13-17) submissions can be made here

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Submission Guidelines

Sharing Your Content

Additional Information
  • Must be 18 or older to participate.
  • Only one submission per category is permitted.
  • Must be your own original work.
  • The deadline to submit is August 17, 2025. Entries must be submitted by a current LA County Library cardholder and resident of LA County. Click here to sign up for an LA County Library card

By submitting your work to our contest, you agree to the following:

I hereby grant LA County Library a perpetual, non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, transmit, distribute, copy, and edit the Content, in whole or in part, in any form or media, for non-commercial purposes, and to grant rights to third parties to do any of the foregoing (e.g., via Creative Commons License). I acknowledge that I retain copyright to the Content

I represent that, to the best of my knowledge, I am the originator and sole owner of the Content and/or have been otherwise authorized by the owner of the Content to grant the rights required by this license, and that no part of the Content violates or infringes upon the copyright of any other party. If the Content contains material for which I do not own the copyright, I have obtained and provided along with this form the permission of the copyright holder to grant the terms of this license.

Contact Information will only be used to reach out if your work is selected as a winner.

Submission Deadline

August 17, 2025

File Types Accepted

PDF

Age Requirements

Ages 18+