Congratulations to the Winners of the 9th Annual First Chapter Contest!

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the Chicago Writers Association’s 9th Annual First Chapter Contest.

First Place goes to Lana Orndorff for her gripping first chapter of Those Who Favor Fire. Told from multiple points of view, this opening sets the stage for a timely, poignant, and chilling portrayal of an all-too-common national tragedy—a school shooting. But this one is different: it takes place during a 50th high school reunion, and one of the attendees is a U.S. senator. Lorna has been awarded a full scholarship to attend either the All-Genre Novel-In-Progress (NIP) Bookcamp & Writing Retreat or the Speculative Fiction NIP Bookcamp & Writing Retreat, both happening June 22-28, 2025, at the Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin (valued at $1,710).

Second Place is awarded to Dorothy Nesbit for her first chapter of Daughter of the Weeds. Dorothy will receive a cash prize of $150.

Third Place goes to Jill Robinson for her opening chapter of Fragile. Jill will receive a cash prize of $75.

An Honorable Mention and a $25 cash prize has been awarded to Mary Reed for her chapter Manna.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners! The top three chapters will be published in upcoming editions of Write City Magazine.

Members of CWA’s Board of Directors selected the prize winners, which will be published in CWA’s e-zine, Write City Magazine. Judging was blind and based on merits that should be found in a first chapter, including a good opening hook, strong characterizations, compelling voice, conflict, dialogue, and no grammar/mechanical errors.

Thank you to all of those who entered. We received a record number of entries. The judges were all impressed by the quality of this year’s entries.

Look for details about the 10th Annual First Chapter Contest coming in the summer of 2025.