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.