Honor a person who helped shape you! We are looking for essays, creative nonfiction, or fictionalized stories about the real people who have influenced your life. You can talk about friends, family, mentors, or even someone you met in passing. You can tell us the story of how they impacted you or just introduce us to that important person.  

Entries are accepted until 5 p.m. Tuesday, February 7.

Writers are encouraged to enter online via Google Form.

Alternate entry options include email or submitting in hard copy with an English entry form PDF or Spanish entry form PDF at a Salem Public Library Ask Me Desk. Forms are also available to pick up at Salem Public Library.

Cash prizes will be awarded in each of two categories: teen (grades 6-12) and adult (age 18+). Prizes are:

• 1st place - $50
• 2nd place - $30
• 3rd place - $20

Stories should be 200-1,000 words. 

Top entries will be read at a special awards and recognition event at 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, February 23 in Anderson Rooms A&B.

The People Who Shaped Me Writing Contest is a part of the 2023 Salem Reads: One Book, One Community, exploring Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. Additional activities and events are planned throughout February 2023.

Guidelines for Entries

• Each writer may submit no more than 2 stories.
• Writers must live in the Salem area and/or attend a Salem area school.
• Stories must not exceed 1,000 words.
• Uploaded stories must be in PDF format.
• Work must be wholly original. Stories with plagiarized content will be disqualified from the contest.
• The title of the story must be printed at the top of each page.
• Each submission must be accompanied by a completed Google entry form. Your name should NOT appear anywhere on the story.
• Anyone unable to submit through the Google form has the option to (1) email the story along with name, phone, and story title to ssomerville@cityofsalem.net or (2) submit a hard copy of their story along with a printed entry form to any Salem Public Library Ask Me Desk.
• Each entry must be typed on 8.5” by 11” paper.
• Entries are judged on originality, voice, and overall impression.
• Stories will not be returned at the end of the contest.
• The decision of the judges is final.