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virginia woolf legacy contest

contest format

  • Genre or Style: Stream-of-consciousness fiction, lyrical prose, or introspective narrative

  • Prompt: Write a short passage from the perspective of a character experiencing an ordinary moment with extraordinary inner texture / dialogue

  • Word Count: 700–1,000 words

  • 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

Paste your text directly into the submission box. You may also upload a file.

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Contest Deadlines (All Legacy Writing Competitions):

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  • Spring Contest:    -   March 31st at 11:59 PM (UTC)​​

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  • Summer Contest:    -   June 30th at 11:59 PM (UTC)

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  • Fall Contest:    -   September 30th at 11:59 PM (UTC)​

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  • Winter Contest:    -   December 31st at 11:59 PM (UTC)​​

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