Category Archives: Writing Contests

Harsh Sentences, Views From The Inside, Writing Contests

My Pen Pal

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‘White privilege’ was something she admits she had her entire life, but she didn’t realize it until a few years ago, not until all the movements that took place to bring attention to mistreatment of black and brown people.  She wanted to help, do something, speak up and fight for the voiceless and those whose voices were heard – but ignored.  She wanted to get involved, but she didn’t know where to begin or how to start her journey.

She didn’t have to, but she took the initiative to take the first step.  She reached out to a church that connects inmates with positive people on the outside willing to get to know them without judgment, and eventually she became my penpal. 

She had found a passion for change, and she shared that with those she knew, though many didn’t understand or support her. Everyone thought she was crazy for wanting to help people in prison, but she still reached out to me, determined to put light on what she saw as an unfair justice system that often sees guilt in the color of your skin. 

She took the time to read about my case and the fifteen to thirty year sentence I was given for aiding and abetting, for being present when a crime took place, but not actually participating in a crime.   She didn’t have to, but she chose to speak up and help fight for my freedom – or at least bring attention to it.   She posted on social media sites and talked to advocates about my story.  People she knew were embarrassed that she posted about me and knew people in prison.  The people closest to her were against her, but she didn’t give up on me. 

It was the first time in nine years of incarceration I felt hope again and believed someone cared even without actually ‘knowing’ me.  She helped me to fight for my life and file appeals again even though I had already given up.  She could have lost people close to her, but she stood up for something, against all odds, and showed true grit. 

I ended up getting my federal appeal approved, and my penpal will forever have had an impact on my life.

ABOUT THE WRITER. Mr. Nero is our third place writing contest winner. This is only our second post by Tevin, and I am really glad to see him here for the contest. He wrote exactly to the prompt, and it does take a lot of courage and grit to stand true to your convictions when your peers see things differently. Curiosity had me look up his case – and I have to agree with his penpal. It was a very harsh sentence.

Tevin Nero can be contacted at:
Tevin Nero #792000
Alger Correctional Facility
N6141 Industrial Park Drive
Munising, MI 49862

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Writing Contests

GRIT – Unwavering Courage & Determination, No Matter The Obstacle

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I had been thinking of the next theme for a contest.  It came to me as I was thinking about one of our writers.  He was sentenced to death over twenty years ago in a case that would be laughable if it hadn’t started with a death and resulted in a death sentence.  Any reasonable person can look at the evidence and wonder – how did he get there, and why is he still there?

As an observer of his and many other cases, the biggest challenge has been the resistance from within the very system to acknowledge flaws or mistakes made within that community.  As I reflect on that, I think – it would take one person with a lot of grit to take the case on, buck the system and do the right thing, rather than follow the norm – just one person.  They do exist.

The Oxford dictionary defines grit as ‘courage and resolve, strength of character’.   Tell me a story, describe a person you know or have witnessed – display true grit.  Resolve in the face of repercussions, ignoring what people are comfortable with and doing the right thing, over and over again if necessary.  Courage to take the path of most resistance for a just cause. 

Inspire us.  Give us an example we can look up to.  It could be a family member, friend, or someone you witnessed from afar.  It could be in prison or out of prison, an action taken by a fellow inmate or an officer.

That’s the theme of this contest: Describe a display of ‘inspirational grit’ you have seen or been touched by or heard about.

Only those who are incarcerated are eligible to participate. 

We can’t accept anything that has been previously published.

Submission is free – BUT, even if an entry doesn’t win, we consider entry permission to publish and edit.  Sometimes we get so many excellent entries, they can’t all win, but they need to be shared.

Entries should be 1,000 words or less.

Submissions can be handwritten.

As done in our previous contests, I will narrow down the entries to the top ten, and then hand them off to individuals to rate the writing with a point system to determine winners.

PRIZES: 

First Place:  $75
Second Place:  $50
Third Place:  $25

DEADLINE:  August 31, 2021.  Decisions will be posted on or before September 30, 2021.

MAILING ADDRESS:

Walk In Those Shoes
Writing Contest Entry
P.O. Box 70092
Henrico, Virginia  23255

I’m truly anxious to hear the stories of people to inspire us, people who remind us that grit does exist.

As a reminder, WITS gives away a book each month to one ‘Writer Of The Month’.  All it takes to be considered is to have an essay posted on the site that month.  The last book was Ordinary Grace, and the titles are often books we use in our book clubs.

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Writing Contests

I Believe In You

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Have those words ever made a difference in your life?  It might not have been said exactly that way, but do those words make you think of someone in particular?

WITS supports and believes in the limitless potential of positive reinforcement, and wants to hear about a time in your life when someone believing in you – had an impact on your actions and/or choices.

Is there anyone who ever believed in you – and that confidence and belief in you influenced you in a positive way?  It could have been a child, a parent, a teacher or a friend – anyone, even a stranger. 

That’s the theme of the first writing contest of 2021:  Has Someone’s Belief In YOU Ever Impacted Your Decisions And Actions? 

I say it all the time – be vulnerable.  That may mean writing about your own insecurities. 

Only those who are incarcerated are eligible to participate. 

We can’t accept anything that has been previously published.

Submission is free – BUT, even if an entry doesn’t win, we consider entry permission to publish and edit.  Sometimes we get so many excellent entries, they can’t all win, but they need to be shared.

Entries should be 1,000 words or less.

Submissions can be handwritten.

As done in our previous contests, I will narrow down the entries to the top ten, and then hand them off to individuals to rate the writing with a point system to determine winners.

PRIZES: 

First Place:  $75
Second Place:  $50
Third Place:  $25

DEADLINE:  March 31, 2021.  Decisions will be posted on or before April 30, 2021.

MAILING ADDRESS:

Walk In Those Shoes
Writing Contest Entry
P.O. Box 70092
Henrico, Virginia  23255

As always – I’m excited to see what comes in!

As a reminder, WITS is giving away a book or magazine subscription once a month to a random submission that gets posted for each month of 2021.  These posts can be on any topic, and are unrelated to this contest.  January’s random book will be Where The Crawdads Sing.

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Writing Contests

Bird By Bird Give-Away

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We shared this book with one of our writers recently and he found it very helpful. In the month of December, 2020, we will be choosing a random WITS writer to recieve a copy. So – just send in an essay or poem that gets posted before December is over, and you could be randomly chosen. Let us know how you like it! We might give it away again.

Please share with your writer friends. Submission is considered permission to edit and post.

WITS, P.O. Box 70092, Henrico, VA 23255  

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Views From The Inside, Writing Contests

Writing Contest Time!!

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The holidays are right around the corner.  Plans have started, options being considered, gift lists are being made. 

Describe for readers what your favorite holiday looks like behind bars.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be a winter holiday or Christmas.  It can be a spring holiday.  It can be any holiday you want.  You might want to compare it to a holiday long gone, or one never had but dreamed of or observed from afar.  It can be a description of what it looks like from your vantage point, start to finish.  It can be a combination of past and present.  It can be ways you’ve found to create a taste of what it means to you. 

That’s the theme of this writing contest:  What Does Your Favorite Holiday Look Like From There? 

I say it all the time – be vulnerable.  That may mean writing about your own insecurities. 

Only those who are incarcerated are eligible to participate. 

We can’t accept anything that has been previously published.

Submission is free – BUT, even if an entry doesn’t win, we consider entry permission to publish and edit.  Sometimes we get so many excellent entries, they can’t all win, but they need to be shared.

Entries should be 1,000 words or less.

Submissions can be handwritten.

As done in our previous contests, I will narrow down the entries to the top ten, and then hand them off to individuals to rate the writing with a point system to determine winners.

PRIZES: 

First Place:  $75
Second Place:  $50
Third Place:  $25

DEADLINE:  November 30, 2020.  Decisions will be posted on or before December 31, 2020.

MAILING ADDRESS:

Walk In Those Shoes
Writing Contest Entry
P.O. Box 70092
Henrico, Virginia  23255

As always – I’m excited to see what comes in!

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Views From The Inside, Writing Contests

Writing Contest – Message To A Younger You

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There’s a woman I know who plays Devil’s advocate for me.  She’s a skeptic – and I am forever grateful for her perspective.  She recently asked,  “What would ‘they’ have done differently?”  That led to a conversation about a previous post – A Letter To My Thirteen Year Old Self. 

Walk In Those Shoes receives those types of letters a lot.  Things happen in life, paths take us places and without the insight that comes with decades of living – choices are made that alter lives.  I lived through those years and made my share of wrong choices.  I got lucky – or blessed.  I’ve watched the next generation play with fire.  ‘Use’ a little.  Carry ‘that’ for protection.  Go to that ‘place’ – because they are invincible. Nothing can go wrong.  But plans sometimes go awry. 

That’s the theme of this writing contest:  If you could drop a piece of paper, a message, a letter in the dresser drawer of your younger self – what would it say?  I say it all the time – be vulnerable.  That may mean writing about your own insecurities. 

As always – only those who are incarcerated are eligible to participate. 

We can’t accept anything that has been previously published.

Submission is free – BUT, even if an entry doesn’t win, we consider entry permission to publish and edit.  Sometimes we get so many excellent entries, they can’t all win, but they need to be shared.

Entries should be 1,000 words or less.

Submissions can be handwritten.

As done in our previous contests, I will narrow down the entries to the top ten, and then hand them off to individuals to rate the writing with a point system to determine winners.

PRIZES: 

First Place:  $75
Second Place:  $50
Third Place:  $25

DEADLINE:  May 31, 2020.  Decisions will be posted on or before July 10, 2020.

MAILING ADDRESS:

Walk In Those Shoes
Writing Contest Entry
P.O. Box 70092
Henrico, Virginia  23255

As always – I’m excited to see what comes in.

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Views From The Inside, Why We Advocate, Writing Contests

Writing Contest – Someone Else’s Shoes

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Effective August 8, 2019, Walk In Those Shoes officially became a corporation with public charity status.  Who knew this is where the path that was cleared would lead?

The purpose of Walk In Those Shoes has always been to bring about more understanding and compassion through writing, sharing not only stories but HOW people arrived in their stories.  There are crimes that may never be understood, and there are just as many that could have been predicted by an individual’s life experiences from birth – whether a lack of resources, or love, or having role models who achieved success and the ability to feed their families through crime.

Walk In Those Shoes combines the magic of healing through writing and the true life experiences of those in prison – with the goal of growing compassion.  The end goal is a desire for change in this overly incarcerated country, not only  within prisons themselves but also in the unbalanced scales of justice.  We can come up with solutions, and one part of that is understanding that a prison sentence is not the definition of a person.    

Over the years, positive feedback has outweighed negative by far, although there are, on occasion, voices who object to those in prison having a literary outlet or advocacy.  To that, I say – there is no mistake in loving and caring and speaking up for others.  All comments are welcome, within the bounds of civility, but negative comments won’t stop the compassion and advocacy that happens here because there is no mistake in caring about people.

With that said – it’s time for another writing contest.  Only those who are incarcerated are eligible to participate.  The theme?  SOMEONE ELSE’S SHOES.

Become an advocate.  Plead someone else’s case.  It doesn’t need to be a ‘legal’ argument, the rules are flexible.  Tell us about someone you know who deserves another chance at freedom, or medical care they are not getting, or to be released from solitary confinement.  Tell us about a ‘good soul’ that has always had the chips stacked against him or her.  You might have to talk to them about their childhood – find out their story.  Or you may already know it.  Or – your piece might not touch on their background at all.  You make the rules – but speak up for someone in a way that makes people feel compassion.  Nicknames are welcome, but if you use their full name – get their permission to write about them, and if they choose you can include their contact information. 

However you want to go about it – help us to feel someone else’s suffering, to walk in their shoes.  In 1,000 words or less – show love and compassion through your writing about – someone else.  Submissions can be handwritten.

As done in our previous contest, I will narrow down the entries to the top ten, and then hand them off to individuals to rate the writing with a point system to determine winners.

PRIZES:  It became apparent in the previous contest we needed more than one prize. 

First Place:  $75
Second Place:  $50
Third Place:  $25

DEADLINE:  December 31, 2019.  Decisions will be posted on or before February 10, 2020.

COST OF ENTRY:  Entry is free, but entry will be considered permission for posting on the blog and for editing – regardless of whether or not the entry wins. If the last contest is any indication, we recieved a lot of writing we wanted to share, even if they all didn’t win. 

Please don’t submit previously published material.

MAILING ADDRESS:

Walk In Those Shoes
Writing Contest Entry
P.O. Box 70092
Henrico, Virginia  23255

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