About this Competition

Capture the essence of Erma's writings and you could win $1,000 and a free registration to the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop to be held April 2-4, 2020 at the University of Dayton! Honorable mentions will receive $100.

Erma Bombeck, graduated from the University of Dayton in 1949, lived with her husband and family in Centerville, Ohio, and inspired people worldwide with her columns and books about life's trials and tribulations. Her memory lives on with the Erma Bombeck Writing Competition hosted every two years by the Washington-Centerville Public Library and the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop hosted by the University of Dayton.

News! Two prolific authors — Bill Bryson and Jess Montgomery — will serve as finalist judges for the 2020 Erma Bombeck Writing Competition. And none other than Betsy Bombeck, Erma’s daughter, will keynote the Awards Celebration on April Fool’s Day at the Woodbourne Library. Read more!

For more information or questions about this competition, please call Debe Dockins, Community Outreach Coordinator, at 937-610-4429 or send an email to: ddockins@wcpl.lib.oh.us.