Asian Focus Writing Contest

About the contest

In honor of Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month, this essay contest seeks to share stories about the richness and extraordinary diversity of the Asian-American experience in North Carolina. We interpret "Asian-American" broadly — to include mixed-ethnicities, Pacific Islanders, South Asians, and the Asian side of Russia.

Who can enter

• Open Division: Any current North Carolina resident, or any current student at a North Carolina institution.
• Junior Division: Any North Carolina resident or student in a state school who is 18 years or younger.

Entrants can be any race or ethnicity. Everyone with a story to tell is welcome.

What to write about

Acceptable subjects all relate to Asian-American experiences in North Carolina, including:

• Profiles and interviews
• Historical or recent places and events
• Businesses and community groups
• Personal narratives
• Advocacy essays

Rules

• Word count: 500–3,000 words (Open Division); 350–3,000 words (Junior Division).
• Entries must be in English.
• Perfect grammar is not necessary, especially for entrants for whom English is not their first language.
• No AI-generated writing.
• Entries may include photos, videos, audio, and other media.
• Submit in PDF format.

Prizes

Winning essays will be published on our website and featured at Asia Fest. Prize awards may be reduced if fewer than 10 entries per division are received.

Deadline & how to submit

Deadline: Midnight EDT, Monday, September 16. Submit your entry as a PDF by email with the subject line "Asian Focus Essay Contest."

Include your name and contact details, your town or city in North Carolina, and — for the Junior Division — your age and school enrollment information.

marko.fong@asianfocusnc.org