Patty Friedmann Writing Competition LMNL Arts (Gold Star Program) Gold Star

Each Spring, LMNL invites submissions to its annual writing competition. Formerly the Words & Music Writing Competition, due to a generous underwriter it has been rechristened the Patty Friedmann Writing Competition. Ours is a writing competition in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, public high school (all genres), and “Beyond the Bars” (a multi-genre competition for incarcerated juveniles), associated with the Words and Music writers’ conference that takes place in November each year. Entry fees from the competition are donated to the literacy project that runs the Words and Music writing conference, One Book One New Orleans. Winners in the poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction categories receive $1000, and winners in the Public High School Short Story and Beyond the Bars categories receive $500. Winners in all categories will be published in our 2025 LMNL Anthology and all runners-up, finalists, and all entrants will be considered for publication.

Beyond the Bars

Temp Closed

This category is for submissions to our Beyond the Bars contest for juvenile victims of incarceration. If that does not describe you, please do not submit.

Submit three pieces, no longer than thirty pages total. No previously published work.

This year’s contest is judged by Adam Karlin.

Not Open

Creative Nonfiction

Temp Closed

Submit one piece, no longer than thirty pages total. No previously published work. If you know the judge personally (current or former student within five years or think they will recognize your work) then please withhold your submission.

This year’s contest is judged by Leah Myers.

Not Open

Fiction

Temp Closed

Submit one short story, no longer than thirty pages total. No previously published work. If you know the judge personally (current or former student within five years or think they will recognize your work) then please withhold your submission.

This year’s contest is judged by E.M. Tran.

Not Open

High School (All Genres)

Temp Closed

This category is for submissions to our Public High School (all genre) writing contest for public high school students. If that does not describe you, please do not submit.

Submit one short story or essay, no longer than ten pages total, or 3 poems. No previously published work.

This year’s contest is judged by Kirsten Reneau.

Not Open

Poetry

Temp Closed

Submit three poems, no longer than five pages total. No previously published work. If you know the judge personally (current or former student within five years or think they will recognize your work) then please withhold your submission.

This year’s contest is judged by Carolyn Hembree.

Not Open