Literary Arts

The Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival is proud to sponsor our annual Poetry & Short Story Contest, open to anyone writing in English. We encourage all national and international writers to practice their craft by submitting previously unpublished poems and short stories to be juried. Since 1975, our non-profit organization has striven to bring the arts and humanities to the community of Westmoreland County. Our Poetry & Short Story Contest allows us to do so while providing an exceptional forum for writers and poets to present their original work.

Two jurors are selected each year. One juror is chosen to evaluate poetry submissions and a second juror is responsible for reviewing short stories. Winners are notified by the end of March and their works are then displayed at our annual Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival for visitors to read. All cash prize winners and honorable mention recipients are also invited to read their works live onstage at the Festival.

Downloadable 2025 Poetry & Short Story Entry Form

Postmark Deadline: APRIL 30, 2026

 

Meet Our 2025 Juror

Lisa Bompiani-Smith, PhD, NBPTS, MA, BS

 

Congratulations to Our 2024 Poetry & Short Story Contest Winners!

Poetry Awards:

  • Westmoreland Award: “The Kite” by Robin Rae Gohn – Somerset, PA
  • First Place: “Just Five More Minutes Please” by J. L. Anderson – Smithfield, PA
  • Second Place: “Dressed in Blue, Such a Beautiful Blue” by Latharyn Howd Machan – Ithaca, NY
  • Third Place: “Blue Note” by Robert Walicki – White Oak, PA
  • Honorable Mention: “On Sun” by Jill Cox – Denham Springs, LA
  • Honorable Mention: “Left on the Silence of the Past” by Catherine Moran – Little Rock, AK
  • Honorable Mention: “Blue Card” by Innocenzio (Chez) Grignano – Central Hall, PA
  • Honorable Mention: “What Remains” by Susan Lederhouse – Yardley, PA

Short Story Awards:

  • Westmoreland Award: “Please Don’t Spit on the Floor/Remember the Johnston Flood” by Walt Peterson – Pittsburgh, PA
  • First Place: “Sole Survivor” by Matthew Feeney – Moose Lake, MN
  • Second Place: ” TRIPZ” by Matthew Feeney – Moose Lake, MN
  • Third Place: “Red Hair” by Christine Aikens Wolfe – Pittsburgh, PA
  • Honorable Mention: “Beautiful Creature” by Charon Pruchnik – Windber, PA
  • Honorable Mention: “Days Gone By” by Linda Rossi – North Versailles, PA
  • Honorable Mention: “Crunch Time” by Matthew Kline – Sausalito, CA
  • Honorable Mention: “Unexpected Surprise” Janet Sady – Graham, NC

**Stories contain adult content and are not suitable for minors. Reader discretion is advised.