Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 SCWC Writing Awards

 ...and read the winning entries below!

One of the highlights of the annual Southern Christian Writers Conference is the announcement of the winners of the SCWC Writing Awards. This recognition is made during the gathering's closing session, and it's always an exciting time for the winners--and for the attendees, as we recognize the winners for their outstanding accomplishments.

The winners of the 2024 SCWC Writing Awards are below. And note that when there is an online version of the winning entry, we've included a link that you can click. We'd love for you to read those winners.

(And let us also take a moment to thank everyone who submitted a story, article, devotion, poem, or blog post to this year's competition. We wish we could have recognized everyone with an award, but please realize what an accomplishment it is to be published in the first place. We are very proud of each of you who were published in the last year, and who submitted to the 2024 awards.)

Newspaper article
1st place: Audrey Bivins for "Girl math trend is teaching girls nonsense" in Muhlenberg County, KY) Leader-News
2nd place: Tracy Riggs Frontz for "NASCAR drivers say prayer, faith important" in The Alabama Baptist
3rd place (tie): Karen Allen for "Lemonade Friendship" in The Alabama Baptist
3rd place (tie): Laura Lee Leathers for "Giving Thanks: Thanksgiving--It's more than pie," in Magnolia (Miss.) Tribune


Short story
1st place; Carole Lehr Johnson for "The Light in the Mist" in Time Passages: A Collection of Diverse Short Stories
2nd place: Pam Waddell for "My Constant Companion" in Experiencing God's Presence
3rd place: Rose Walker for "Survivor" in Hope for Wounded Hearts


Poetry
1st place: Linda Holloway for "If My Hair Could Talk" in The Journal of Poetry Therapy
2nd place: April McCay for "This Very Moment" in Moments in God's Creation
3rd place: Ruth Ann Stubbs for "A Tribute to Our Troops" in Soul's Fuel


Blog post
1st place: Sandi Herron for "Homeward Bound"
2nd place: Amy Tindell for "The Art of Brokenness"
3rd place: Tracy Riggs Frontz for "Do Churches Practice What they Preach?"
Honorable Mention: Mel Tavares for "Sailing the Stormy Sea of Life"
Honorable mention: Carissa Lovvorn for "A Woman's Testimony"


Devotional
1st place: Heather Lamm for "Turning Mourning into Dancing" in Christian Dance Hub Magazine
2nd place: June Foster for "Dead End" in Coffee with God On the Road Link to book here
3rd place: Sharon Atwood for "Teach Me to be Wise" in Outta My Mind, Into His Heart Link to book here
3rd place: Alonza Jones for "My Dwelling Place" in Refreshed by His Grace
Honorable mention: Kristy Ensor for "A No Take-Back" God in Journey Magazine


Magazine article
1st place: Mark Wainwright for "Once Upon a Time..." in Journal for Christian Educators
2nd place (tie): Haylee Collins for "Good Kids Struggle Too: A Missionary Kid's Experience with Counseling" in Missions Mosaic
2nd place (tie):: Becky Alexander for "My Long Cruise" in Guideposts' Angels on Earth
3rd place: Marilyn Tinnin for "Dear Mr. French" in Delta Magazine
Honorable mention: Carrie Partridge for "Whose Move is it Anyway" in Family Christian
Honorable mention: Frances Abrams for "The Priority of Prayer" in Together at Dawson


Congratulations again to all of our winners; one of our greatest joys is recognizing our members' accomplishments. Thank you also to our judges for going through all of our submissions and then selecting our finalists and winners; SCWC staff members served as initial judges, and then dedicated judges selected winners. Those judges include SCWC founders David and Joanne Sloan, blogging expert and "See Jane Write" founder Javacia Bowser, devotional author Shirley Crowder, and SCWC coordinator Cheryl Wray.


And as you go throughout the upcoming year, keep following your calling and your pursuit of publication. We look forward to seeing YOUR submissions next year.