The English Department at Napa Valley College continues to host the annual Jessamyn West Creative Writing Contest for students of Napa Valley College in honor of local author Jessamyn West (1901-1984). Hoping to encourage local writers, the contest was established in the 1960s by Dr. Harry McPherson (West's husband and the founding President of NVC) and Dr. James Diemer.
The contest is open to all Napa Valley College students enrolled in classes on a full or part-time basis during the last twelve months.
The 2025 deadline for entries is Friday, April 18th.
Accepted works include unpublished:
A cash prize is given the first ($150) and second ($100) place winners of each type. In addition to cash prizes, all winners will receive free entry to the public craft lectures and readings presented at the Napa Valley Writers’ Conference.
All winners will be invited to read from their winning submissions at the Jessamyn West Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 5:30 pm in the Community Room of the McCarthy Library at Napa Valley College.
Photograph of Jessamyn West by Johan Hagemeyer September 25, 1954. From UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library.
The McCarthy Library holds a number of the published collections of the poetry and prose by award winners. Please speak with library staff to see the collection. The following lists what title each collection was published under with the date of publication in parentheses.
Winning Prose and Poetry Entries
Jessamyn West Review
Anthology