SANDPOINT — Writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry will have a unique opportunity to share their works Saturday, March 22, at the Community Writing Contest: an audience-judged competition hosted by Sandpoint Writers on the Lake. 

Participants will present a five-minute excerpt of an unpublished work for the opportunity to win a $50 first-place or $25 runner-up prize in their age category. Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and readings will begin at 9:30.

“We invite the community to attend — whether or not they may know someone giving a presentation,” Sandpoint Writers on the Lake President Bonnie McDade said. “This is for the whole community to appreciate what writing can do.” 

According to McDade, the event has been an annual tradition for at least 20 years. This year, in response to feedback from past participants, the contest includes three age categories instead of two: ages 5-12, 13-18 and 19-and-up. 

“What we realized is there's a big difference between a 5-year-old and a 19-year-old. There's not as much difference between a 19-year-old and a 69-year-old,” McDade said. 

Outside of the yearly contest, Sandpoint Writers on the Lake hosts weekend sessions in which members critique each other's works. The group is also planning a series of workshops designed to help area writers publish their content, and local author and group member Tom Reppert has hosted writing classes at the library to help students develop their skills. 

“One of the goals of our group is to encourage young writers to write,” McDade said. “The talent here is huge.” 

All competitors in the contest will read their work aloud in front of dozens of people. McDade recognized that task tests participants’ confidence and vulnerability. 

“A lot of writers have a tough time standing behind a microphone,” she said. “Public speaking is one thing, but when you're standing up reading what you wrote, that's another level of courage.” 

McDade noted that the audience at the event is always friendly and appreciative. By mustering the bravery to share their work, participants are exercising their ability to be courageous. 

“If you step out there the first time, it's not so hard the second time,” McDade said. 

As a reward for those who put themselves out there, the organization will have a table of books published in recent years by members of the club. 

“Anybody who's a contestant, who comes in and has the courage to stand up and read something, gets to go over and pick one of those books free,” McDade said. 

That way, a participant can see what it takes to create a publishable work and possibly be inspired to take steps toward creating one of their own. 

“We want to do more than critiquing each other every week,” Reppert said. 

“We want to have some sort of impact on the community to promote writing,” he added. “That gives us a purpose.”