Active v. Passive Voice in GCWA Press Release

Below is a press release from the Gulf Coast Writers Association. An active-voice rewrite follows.

FORT MYERS, FL., March 27, 2023–A writing contest open to the general public including adults and youth was announced today by the Gulf Coast Writers Association (GCWA), with winners to be named in July.

Submissions are being accepted in the Adult section from persons 18 years old and older in four categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Children’s Stories.  In the Youth section, submissions are being accepted from persons 11 to 17 years old in three categories:  Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry.

The deadline for entries, to be submitted online, for both sections is May 31 at 11:59 p.m.

“This annual contest advances our goal of encouraging writing and recognizing outstanding writers,” said Irene Smith, president of the Fort Myers, FL, based nonprofit in making the announcement.

GCWA’s contest last year received recognition from Reedsy, a marketplace of freelance publishing professionals, as among the Best Writing Contests.

Winners will be announced at the GCWA monthly meeting on July 15.  The list of winners will be posted on the organization’s website (https://gulfwriters.org).  All monthly meetings, currently held at Word of Life Church, 6111 South Pointe Blvd. in Fort Myers at 10 a.m. on the third Saturday, are open to the public.

Judges for the contest are members of GWCA as well as experienced writers from the community. Judging is done on a blind basis and members who submit entries will not judge their own entries.

Rewrite

FORT MYERS, FL., March 27, 2023–The Gulf Coast Writers Association (GCWA) today announced its annual writing contest for adults and youth.

GCWA members and non-members may participate. The adult section encompasses writers 18 years and older in four categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Children’s Stories. The youth section includes 11- to 17-year-olds in three categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry.

Submit all entries online by 11:59 p.m., May 31, 2023. GCWA will announce the winners at its July 15 meeting and online.

“This annual contest advances our goal of encouraging writing and recognizing outstanding writers,” said Irene Smith, president of the Fort Myers, Florida–based nonprofit. She noted that Reedsy, a marketplace of freelance publishing professionals, listed last year’s competition in its Best Writing Contests.

Although GWCA members may sit on the judging panel of experienced writers, judging is blind. Members who submit entries will not evaluate their own entries.

GCWA will announce this year’s winners at its July 15 meeting and list the winners on its website (gulfwriters.org). 

GCWA welcomes non-members at its meetings at Word of Life Church, 6111 South Pointe Blvd., Fort Myers, at 10 a.m. on the third Saturday of every month.