November 2025 Writing Contest
November 2025 Writing Contest
First place - $100
Second place - $50
Third place - $25
Honorary Runner Up - Certificate
Winners' stories will published on our website. In addition, winners and selected CWC Member works will have the opportunity to be published in an upcoming anthology.
The theme "The Path Not Taken" invites you to explore the profound, often whispered, question of "What if?" It's a theme rooted in one of the most powerful forces in human experience: choice and the inevitable, lingering presence of its consequences.
Whether you choose fiction or a reflective piece on your own life, your challenge is to bring that unseen or untraveled road vividly to life.
Fiction Writers — A story built around the path not taken is not just about the regret—it's about the alternate reality a character might have lived: a fork in the road, the ghost of what could be, a telltale object that represents the choice made, the blue or the red pill?
Memoir/Creative Nonfiction Writers — This is an opportunity for honest introspection. Your story should not just recount a moment of choice, but deeply analyze its lasting effect on the person you are today. Pinpoint the exact decision you made and then, using the perspective of time, fully imagine the life that would have unfolded had you chosen differently. How does the person you didn't become influence the person you did? How is your current reality is defined by the very absence of that other life? Ultimately, what does the "Path Not Taken" teach you about the paths you have taken?
We can't wait to read where your reflection and imagination lead you!
Theme: All entries must creatively interpret the theme "The Path Not Taken."
Format: We accept both Fiction and Creative Nonfiction/Memoir.
Originality: Submissions must be entirely the original work of the author and must not have been previously published (in print or online).
Word Count: Entries must be a maximum of 1,500 words (excluding the title). Submissions above this word count will be disqualified.
Submission Limit: You may submit a maximum of 2 entries. Each entry must be submitted and paid for separately.
File Type: Submit your entry as a Microsoft Word (DOCX) file.
Font: Times New Roman, 12-point.
Spacing: Double-space the text.
Page Numbers: Include page numbers on every page (e.g., in the footer). Also include the title of the piece in the header of every page.
Anonymity: To ensure fair judging, do not include your name or any identifying information on the manuscript itself.
Deadline: All entries must be received by 11:59 PM on November 30, 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted.
By submitting, you agree that if your entry wins and/or is selected for publication, Napa Valley Writers has the right to publish your work on our website and in upcoming anthologies. Full copyright remains with the author.
Pieces will be judged on the following criteria:
Theme Interpretation: This criterion measures how deeply and creatively the writer engages with the central idea of choice, the alternate reality, and the influence of the untraveled road.
Character and Emotional Depth: A powerful story on this theme requires the reader to feel the weight of the decision and the authenticity of the character's emotional journey.
Narrative Craft and Structure: This focuses on the technical skill of the writer—how well the story is paced, organized, and executed.
Voice and Style: This considers the distinctiveness of the writer's voice and the vividness of their language.
Clarity and Polish: This is the assessment of basic mechanics and readability.
Ralph DeAmicis’ poetry was first published while he was in High School, and for many years he wrote lyrics and music. His first articles were for Sculpture Magazine, about both technical and educational programs. When he met his wife Lahni they began co-authoring and publishing over fifty books on Feng Shui, Ergonomic design, Herbology, Business, Travel and Astrology. They produce the top selling wine tour books in the North Bay and America’s most informative astrology almanac, the Planetary Calendar. Their main titles can be found at www.SpaceAndTime.com.
John Petraglia is a Napa poet, writer and former environmental communications professional. He is the author of Featherstorm, a children's holiday picture book, and a Haiku collection, The Moon Has No Light of Its Own. He is a former board member of Napa Valley Writers, Managing Editor of NVW Anthology, Opus IV, Poetry Editor of NVW Anthology, Meritage, and Managing Editor of Les Deux Magots-Redux a Napa Poetry Anthology. His poetry has appeared in Thema, Inscribe, The California Literary Review and other publications. He was a former literary docent at Robinson Jeffers' Tor House in Carmel, CA.
Brad Shurmantine (bradshurmantine.com) was a high school English teacher and administrator for thirty-six years. He lives in Napa, where he writes, reads, naps, watches the Warriors, works in his gardens, and hits the gym. He hikes in the Sierras and travels abroad whenever possible. His fiction and essays have appeared in Mud Season Review, Loch Raven Review, and Catamaran; his poetry in Third Wednesday, Book of Matches, and Blue Lake Review. His book of poetry, Tramp, was published by Finishing Line Press in July 2025.
Amber Lea Starfire, MFA is an author, editor, and journaling expert whose passion is helping others tell their stories. She has authored two memoirs, Accidental Jesus Freak: One Woman's Journey from Fundamentalism to Freedom and Not the Mother I Remember, as well as five books on journaling, including Journaling for Dummies, released in Nov. 2022. Amber has been a member of the California Writers Club since 2010 and joined Napa Valley Writers when it began in 2013.
For questions, contact napavalleywriters@gmail.com.