The 2025 Seven Hills Literary Contest/Penumbra Poetry and Haiku Contest (the Contest) is open for entries! Sponsored annually by the Tallahassee Writers Association, the Contest is open to English-language entries from around the world. You do not have to be a member of TWA to enter, but members receive discounted entry fees.

The Contest always includes Poetry and Haiku, and spotlights different prose categories each year. This year, we are doing something a little different: The Poetry category will actually be two categories–one for shorter poems (maximum 100 lines) and one for prose poetry (maximum 500 words). There will be a change in the Haiku category, too. This year, the 5-7-5 structure is a guideline rather than a strict requirement. Haiku entries should evoke the sense of the traditional Japanese haiku.

In addition, we have two prose categories, Florida Fiction and Fantasy/Science Fiction. Florida fiction is literature written about the State of Florida, its people, history, and landscape, often exploring its unique social, economic, and environmental themes. Florida Fiction can encompass various genres (mystery, thriller, romance, adventure, etc.) that engage the reader with the specific atmosphere, culture, and challenges of the Sunshine State, as seen in books by authors like Carl Hiaasen and Lauren Groff.

The Fantasy/Science Fiction category is open to both fantasy and science fiction. Fantasy fiction incorporates impossible or unreal elements such as magic or mythological creatures into either the real world (low fantasy) or an entirely invented world (high fantasy). Science fiction involves speculative scientific or technological elements (such as space travel, time travel, or advanced technology) and often explores the impact of these elements on society and humanity.

Both Florida Fiction and Fantasy/Sci-Fi require the first 7,500 words of a full-length novel plus a synopsis (300-500 words). The synopsis will be for the judge’s information only and will NOT be published. When formatting your word or pdf document, start with the synopsis first and then include your excerpt ALL IN THE SAME DOCUMENT. CLARIFICATION: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A COMPLETE NOVEL. 

Winning entries (first, second, and third place in each category) receive cash prizes and an electronic certificate and are published in the 2026 Seven Hills Review, along with a short author bio. Additionally, first-place winners in each category will receive a complimentary copy of the 2026 Seven Hills Review! Note that synopses of winning prose entries WILL NOT be published; these are just used to inform the judging.

Whether you are a first-time writer or a published author, we invite you to enter the Contest. If you are not a current member of TWA, you may join at https://twaonline.org/membership/purchase and you will immediately be eligible for member discount entry fees.

Writing contests may be an author’s first foray into publication. As such, following the rules helps authors learn the importance of following publishers’ and editors’ submission rules. Please read and heed all the rules for the Contest in general as well as the rules for the specific category(ies) which you are entering. These are RULES. Failure to comply with the rules is cause for disqualification. Entry fees will not be refunded for failure to comply with the rules.

Judging: Judges are professional, published authors in their category. To ensure fairness, all judging is blind; therefore, please be sure to delete any identifying information that is included on the entry itself (including headers and footers) and any metadata (e.g., document properties).

Eligibility: The Contest is open to everyone. TWA members enjoy discounted entry fees. If you are not a current member, you may join TWA at https://twaonline.org/membership/purchase prior to completing the entry form to be eligible for the discounted entry fees. If you are unsure whether your membership is current, email [email protected] and we will check your membership status.

Categories: This year’s contest includes five categories: Florida Fiction, Fantasy/Science Fiction, Poetry, Prose Poetry, and Haiku. You many enter as many times as you wish, but each entry requires a separate entry form and entry fee.

• Florida Fiction: Submit the first 7,500 words AND a synopsis (300-500 words) of a full-length fiction story set in Florida, any genre (except as noted below), intended for an adult audience. “Adult” does NOT mean erotica.
• Fantasy/Science Fiction: Submit the first 7,500 words AND a synopsis (300-500 words) of a full-length fantasy or science fiction story.
• Poetry: Submit a single poem, any style or subject, maximum 100 lines.
• Haiku: Submit a haiku that is either in the traditional format (three lines in the standard format of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively) or evokes the spirit of haiku in a more Western approach. Note that only one haiku is allowed per entry, but the entry fee is reduced accordingly.

Rules for the 2025 Seven Hills Literary Contest/Penumbra Poetry and Haiku Contest

Deadline: October 30, 2025 at 11:45 PM ET

These rules MUST be followed. Submitters who do not follow the rules risk having their entry rejected. If your entry is rejected, you will be notified of the reason(s) for rejection. Entry fees will not be refunded. If you choose to revise and resubmit your entry, a new entry form and entry fee will be required. Please be sure you have followed the rules before submitting your entry. Decisions of the Contest Committee are final.

• Contest Opens: June 1, 2025. No submissions will be accepted prior to this date.
• Contest Deadline: October 30, 2025 at 11:45 PM ET. No submissions will be accepted after the deadline.
• All submissions must be the original work of the submitter. Do not include copyrighted material (e.g. song lyrics) that is not the property of the submitter.
• Works that are created with AI are not eligible. You must certify that no part of your entry was created using AI.
• Only unpublished works are eligible. If your work is accepted for publication elsewhere, notify us immediately.
• Language: Only English-language entries are accepted. Occasional inclusion of words in other languages is acceptable if the meaning is clear from the context. For example, “Polo was her raison d’etre. Without her pony, Starr’s world would be meaningless.” Entries that are not in the English language will be rejected.
• No adult content will be accepted. Submissions containing adult content will be rejected. Adult content includes but is not limited to graphic violence or explicit sexual content (erotica). If you are uncertain whether your entry contains adult content, apply the Motion Picture Association film rating scale: If your entry would garner an NC-17 (“Adults Only: No One 17 and Under Admitted. Clearly adult. Children are not admitted”) or more restrictive rating, it will be deemed to contain adult content and is NOT eligible for this contest. The determination by the contest committee of whether a submission contains adult content is final.
• No identifying information: To ensure blind judging, you must remove any identifying information prior to submitting your entry. This includes the author’s name, address, phone number, email address, website, or other identifying information anywhere in the uploaded entry document. Please check all headers, footers, titles, texts, and metadata prior to submission to ensure no identifying information is included. (You will include this information on the entry form, so it is not needed on the entry itself.)
• Formatting: Only PDF and Microsoft Word documents are accepted. Your entry must be a PDF or Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) file.
  • Page size: 8½” x 11” with 1” margins.
  • Font: Black Times New Roman font, 12-point type.
  • Include the title on the first page. Include the title and page number in the header information on each page after the first page.
  • ONLY INCLUDE TEXT. No illustrations (e.g., margin decorations, photos, maps, borders) allowed. No website insertions allowed. No audio or video will be accepted.
  • Florida Fiction and Fantasy/Science Fiction entries should be double spaced with each paragraph indented (not tab) ½”. No additional return between paragraphs.
  • Poetry and Prose Poetry may be either single or double spaced. You may include an additional return between stanzas.
  • Title the document with the CATEGORY and name of your work (e.g., FLORIDA_FICTION_A_Land_Remembered). Do NOT include the author’s name or any other identifying information. Note that haikus do not have titles. Your document name will be the CATEGORY and the first line of your Haiku (e.g., HAIKU_Meteor_Shower).
• Maximum length: Entries must not exceed the maximum number of words or lines:
  • Florida Fiction and Fantasy/Science Fiction: Your entry must be the first 7,500 words of a novel-length work of fiction. You must also include a synopsis (300-500 words).
  • Poetry: Your entry must be a single poem with a maximum of 100 lines. 
  • Prose Poetry: Your entry must be a single prose poem with a maximum of 500 words.
  • Haiku: Your entry must be a short poem that evokes the traditional Japanese haiku, possibly by referencing the seasons or a specific moment in time. This year, we have eliminated the requirement to follow the strict traditional haiku structure (three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables), although this structure is, of course, acceptable.
     
• Submissions: Only entries submitted through the online contest submissions links will be accepted.

  • Between June 1 and August 31, use https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7Hills2025earlybird.

  • After August 31, use https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7Hills2025.

  • Hard copies, emails, and entries received by any method other than the official online contest submissions links will not be considered or returned.

  • You are welcome to enter as many times as you wish in any category(ies). Each entry requires a separate entry form and entry fee.

• Entry Fee: The entry fee must be paid at the time of submission. Entry fees are non-refundable. “Early-bird” entries receive a discounted rate. TWA members receive a discounted rate. Entry fees are as follows:

Early Bird (June 1 – August 31):

TWA MEMBERS
Florida Fiction: $20
Fantasy/Science Fiction: $20
Prose Poetry: $15
Poetry: $15
Haiku: $5

NON-TWA MEMBERS
Florida Fiction: $30
Fantasy/Science Fiction: $30
Prose Poetry: $25
Poetry: $25
Haiku: $10

Regular (September 1 – October 30):

TWA MEMBERS
Florida Fiction: $25
Fantasy/Science Fiction: $25
Prose Poetry: $20
Poetry: $20
Haiku: $10

NON-TWA MEMBERS
Florida Fiction: $40
Fantasy/Science Fiction: $40
Prose Poetry: $35
Poetry: $35
Haiku: $15

• Author Bio: If your submission is selected as a first, second, or third place winner, we will request a short biography (maximum 100 words) that will be printed in the Seven Hills Review.

Submission Process:

The contest is open from June 1 – October 30, 2025. The official contest submissions links are the ONLY way submissions will be accepted. Between June 1 and August 31, use https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7Hills2025earlybird. After August 31, use https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7Hills2025. Hard-copy submissions, emailed submissions, and submissions received through any channel other than the official link will NOT be accepted. TWA is not responsible for lost or late submissions or fees that are not received. By submitting an entry, you agree to all rules and eligibility requirements of the contest; you agree to have your entry and short bio published in the Seven Hills Review if you are a first, second, or third place winner.

(1) Submitting the entry.

• Complete the online submission form via the official contest submissions links above. Your entry document must be uploaded as an attachment to the entry form. Only Portable Document Format (PDF) and Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) files are accepted.
• Florida Fiction and Fantasy/Sci-Fi categories require a synopsis. Include the synopsis in the same document with your entry. The synopsis should be at the top of your document.
• You may submit multiple entries, but must use a separate entry form and pay a separate entry fee for each entry.

(2) Submitting the entry fee.

• The entry fee must be paid via the payment page on the Survey Monkey submission form. You will automatically be taken to the payment page after you have successfully completed all the required information. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME ISSUES WITH THE SURVEYMONKEY PAYMENT PROCESS. IF SURVEYMONKEY DOES NOT TAKE YOU TO THE PAYMENT PAGE, TWA WILL SEND YOU A SHORT SURVEYMONKEY FORM TO COMPLETE TO PAY YOUR ENTRY FEE. Failure to pay for the entry will result in the entry being rejected. If you select the TWA member entry fee and are not a TWA member, you will be notified to pay the balance or join TWA prior to your entry being accepted.

Prizes:

First, second, and third place in each category will be awarded; however, the Contest Committee reserves the right to withhold prizes in any category with an insufficient number or quality of entries. If no prizes are awarded in a category, all entry fees in that category will be refunded. All decisions of the Seven Hills Contest Committee are final.

• First, second, and third-place winners in each category (Florida Fiction, Fantasy/Sci-Fi, Prose Poetry, Poetry, and Haiku) will receive an award certificate and the following cash prizes:

Florida Fiction:
First place – $300
Second place – $200
Third place – $100

Fantasy/Science Fiction:
First place – $300
Second place – $200
Third place – $100

Poetry:
First place – $200
Second place – $100
Third place – $75

Prose Poetry:
First place – $100
Second place – $75
Third place – $50

Haiku:
First place – $100
Second place – $75
Third place – $50

• First, second, and third place in each category (Florida Fiction, Fantasy/Science Fiction, Prose Poetry, Poetry, and Haiku) will be published in the 2026 Seven Hills Review.
• First place winners in each category will receive one complimentary copy of the 2026 Seven Hills Review.

Notification

Finalists selected by the judges will be notified via email by November 30, 2025; however, the order of finish (first, second, or third place) will not be revealed until the Seven Hills Awards Ceremony during TWA’s December general membership meeting/holiday party. The meeting will be held both virtually and in person. The meeting will be held on December 11, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting location is the Marzuq Shrine Center, 1805 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32303. The link for the virtual meeting will be distributed prior to the meeting to everyone who entered the contest. After the Awards Ceremony, winners’ names, city, and order of finish will be posted on the TWA website at twaonline.org.

All decisions of the Contest Committee are final.