"All Roads Lead to Home" Young Writers Contest

This fall, Country Roads magazine invites young writers from Louisiana and Mississippi to share their perspectives of the region as “home,” through works of non-fiction and long-form journalism. 

The ways to write about home are boundless, and we encourage writers to explore various forms and interpretations in telling this story. Bring us into your particular corner of Louisiana or Mississippi; investigate a question you’ve always held about the place you grew up; explore your roots, your history, your culture from the perspective of place. Not from the region? Tell us about your experience moving here, the ways you’ve carried your previous home into this new environment, or the ways you haven’t. Examine here as home through the lenses of music, food, myth, landscape, history, a particular person, or a personal experience.

To enter, writers should submit a 300-word pitch for a nonfiction essay or work of long-form journalism to jordan@countryroadsmag.com, briefly describing:  

• Your story and proposed angle  
• Why you are the best person to tell this story  
• Any interviews or research you plan to conduct  

Along with your pitch, please attach or link to any writing samples from previous work (published or not).

The Country Roads editorial team will judge all entries and select four finalists to expand their pitches, with editorial support, into stories ranging from 1200–2000 words for online publication in Country Roads. From the finalists, one winner will be selected for print publication in the December 2019 “Hearth & Home” issue of Country Roads.

The deadline for submissions is September 30, 2019. 

This contest is reserved for writers younger than 25 years old who have lived in or are currently living in Louisiana or Mississippi. More details at promotions.countryroadsmagazine.com/allroads