Outside of the case that you are currently serving time for, what would you say is the most significant factor or factors that resulted in your incarceration?
Part of what WITS aims to do is raise awareness and add relevant voices to conversations regarding mass incarceration, and it has been said that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution. Another aspect of WITS is providing a creative outlet for people in prison through reflection. It is hoped that will lead to individual clarity and growth.
Please note, the above prompt recognizes not everyone is guilty of the crime they are incarcerated for. What we are looking for has nothing to do with the crime, rather factors that influenced the trajectory towards prison, for example, possibly childhood trauma, socioeconomic status, race, etc. It can be something from childhood or the day of arrest.
With that said, this prompt hopes to inspire reflection, a look at the factors in our lives that might have influenced our direction outside of ourselves. I’m really looking forward to seeing what this prompt inspires.
Entry Details:
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. Poetry is considered, as long as it is inspired by the prompt.
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: February 28, 2023. Decisions will be posted on or before March 31, 2023.
MAILING ADDRESS:
Walk In Those Shoes
Writing Contest Entry
P.O. Box 70092
Henrico, Virginia 23255
Footnote: Entries that do not follow the prompt are not passed on to the judges.
For all posts from this site as well as current criminal justice issues, you can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
