Creative Writing Contest

• Hands-on workshops. Choose from sessions in fiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, and creative nonfiction, led by experienced, published LC State faculty and students.
• Career insight. Learn about the wide range of jobs open to creative writing majors.
• A shot at publication. Submit by November 20 and your work will be considered for a special print issue (see below).

High school students in any grade.

Talking River Review (LC State's literary journal) and Trestle Creek Review (North Idaho College's literary journal) are teaming up on a special issue to be distributed at the conference. If you choose, the work you submit to attend the conference will be considered for publication. Just be sure to meet the priority deadline below.

Submissions will be judged by the student editors of both journals.

Choose one of the following:

• 3 to 5 poems
• One long piece of fiction or creative nonfiction (1,000–4,000 words)
• Two short pieces of fiction or creative nonfiction (250–1,000 words each)
• A novel excerpt (under 4,000 words)
• A short play or film script (under 4,000 words)

Please submit PDF files only.

Submissions are open now.

• Priority deadline: November 20, 2026. Submit by this date to have your work considered for the special journal issue.
• Final deadline: January 15, 2027. Submissions received after November 20 are still welcome for the conference but won't be considered for publication.

Submit here

• Transportation: Participants are responsible for their own travel to and from the LC State campus. A limited number of transportation grants are available for schools. For details, email humanities@lcsc.edu.
• Food: Lunch, snacks, and a light breakfast will be provided at the event.
• Teachers: LC State offers continuing education programming for teachers who attend.
• Questions? Contact the LC State Division of Arts, Letters & Learning at 208-792-2297 or humanities@lcsc.edu.