
virginia woolf legacy contest
contest format
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Genre or Style: Stream-of-consciousness fiction, lyrical prose, or introspective narrative
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Prompt: Write a short passage from the perspective of a character experiencing an ordinary moment with extraordinary inner texture / dialogue
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Word Count: 700–1,000 words
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Unique Rule: Include at least one nonlinear memory or interior shift in time
CONTEST details
Woolf’s writing didn’t follow plot — it followed thought. Her stories wandered through consciousness, memory, perception, and time. This contest asks you to write a piece that captures the fluidity of inner life. No need for a twist or climax — just write what it’s like to be.
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We’re looking for lyrical prose, psychological depth, and shifting perspective. The best entries will feel like a single, long breath — drifting through the moment with beauty and awareness.
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Let thought interrupt action. Describe the hand reaching for the kettle — then drift into what the hand remembers, or fears, or once held.
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Let time bend. Your character can slip from now to then to maybe — all in one sentence.
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Use run-on sentences, fragments, and repetition. This is about rhythm, not grammar. Let the mind wander.
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Make the ordinary feel mythic. A table. A shell. A pair of shoes. Woolf elevated the smallest things. You can too.
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Don’t fear stillness. Nothing dramatic needs to happen — what matters is the internal shift.
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Close with quiet clarity. Let the last line land softly, but with insight. A realization, a memory, or a sudden hush.
Submission form
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