Fifth Annual Last House Writing Contest for Emerging Writers

AUDUBON CANYON RANCH

M.F.K. Fisher's Last House

Last House Writing Contest featuring the work of

emerging writers

The Fifth Annual Last House Writing Contest accepts entries from children, youth, and adults who do not currently write professionally.

MFK quote:

By now dark had almost come. I sat on the balcony feeling a little like the owl on the telephone pole, the hawk on the branch, waiting …. I waited, but everything looked as it always did from my balcony on a hot July night. The new moon was almost down, and a jet plane lowered itself gently toward the city, coming perhaps from very far away …. A supper of cold salmon and blueberries with cream tasted fine, if you care about those things, and I’ll sleep well ….

—FROM THE JOURNALS OF M.F.K. FISHER, GLEN ELLEN, 1980

Theme: Belonging in nature. How does your culture and/or life experience influence how you view nature and yourself in nature?

Many of our memories are formed by our experiences in the natural world and emerging writers are invited to explore a moment in nature, for example, a walk in a neighborhood park, foraging for mushrooms with friends, gathering to share food and connect with community, bird watching, or imaginative play by the ocean. How did an experience in nature influence how you view nature and yourself in nature?

Format: Writers are invited to submit an original unpublished essay or short story (poetry not accepted) in PDF format, 300–500 words for children and youth, 750 words maximum for adults 18 and older. Please include your name at the top of your submission.

Entries accepted in three age categories:

• Children (8–12) (must have parent or legal guardian's consent)
• Youth (13–17) (must have parent or legal guardian's consent)
• Adults 18 and older

Our judges include an esteemed panel of professionals in the literary, food, and agriculture fields.

Judges:

Chair: Clark Wolf, consultant, NPR host. Assisted by Susan Ryan, Bookseller

Ellen Cavalli, farmer, writer, Jon Cheng, food writer, restaurant critic; Jeff Cox food, wine, and gardening author/writer; Kennedy Golden, retired academic, educator, daughter of M.F.K. Fisher; Michele Anna Jordan, author, columnist; Kathleen Thompson Hill, food writer, author, radio host; Celia Sack, Owner of Omnivore Books on Food

Entry fee:

FREE for Children and Youth under 18

$40/Adults. Optional: Join as a new member of Audubon Canyon Ranch with your donation of $65. or more and your entry fee is waived. (No preference will be given to members of Audubon Canyon Ranch.)

Deadline for submission of entries: May 17, 2024

Winners will be announced on our website (egret.org) and on social media (@auduboncanyonranch). All winners will receive a phone call.

Prizes include:

• $500.00 awarded to the grand prize winner
• Winners' submissions will be featured in Audubon Canyon Ranch publications

Proceeds will benefit the preserves and programs of Audubon Canyon Ranch. Learn more about our mission here: https://egret.org/mission-vision-values/

Usage rights: Audubon Canyon Ranch retains royalty-free rights to edit, reproduce, share, and/or publish all winning work in perpetuity.

Cancellation and refund policy: Fees help fund the programs and preserves of Audubon Canyon Ranch, a non-profit conservation organization. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide a refund to contestants who withdraw after registering. If this event is canceled by Audubon Canyon Ranch for any reason, we will notify you by email, and a full refund, including all Eventbrite fees, will be credited back to you within five business days (timing may vary, depending on your banking institution).

Audubon Canyon Ranch retains royalty-free rights to edit, reproduce, share, and/or publish all winning work.

Audubon Canyon Ranch welcomes people of all races, ethnicities, religions, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities.

Photo: David Mahaffey