N. Oregon Coast Writing Contest: Winning Words for the Astoria Column

Published 04/16/26 at 7:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Astoria, Oregon) – As if the famed Oregon coast landmark hitting a century isn't enough, there's a way you can win something via the Astoria Column by showing your creativity. Friends of Astoria Column and The Writers Guild have launched a statewide writing contest to mark the 100th anniversary of the Astoria Column, inviting writers from all over the Pacific Northwest to reflect on the landmark’s history and cultural significance.

This isn't just a local's thing. If you've got words to express about the soaring tower, you've got a shot.

Organizers of the contest and the celebration say the centennial offers an opportunity to connect contemporary voices with the region’s layered past. Dedicated in 1926, the 125-foot monument overlooks the meeting of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean. Its hand-applied sgraffito mural traces key moments in Pacific Northwest history, from Indigenous homelands to exploration, migration, and industry.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Astoria Column by inviting writers to respond to its legacy through their own voices,” said Marianne Monson, Executive Director of The Writers Guild. “The Column has long stood as a symbol of history, storytelling, and perspective, and this contest feels like a natural extension.”

Writers are encouraged to submit original, unpublished work that engages with the Column’s history, symbolism, or physical presence. Themes may include arrival, migration, inheritance, landscape, resilience, and the spiral nature of history. Submissions may be contemporary or historical in approach.

Contest categories include poetry, with up to three poems of no more than 50 lines each, and memoir or personal essay up to 2,000 words. The contest is open to residents of Oregon and Washington, with divisions for adults, teens ages 13 to 17, and children ages 7 to 13. Entrants may submit one piece per genre.

Submissions must include the writer’s name, contact information, and a brief third-person biography of 50 words or fewer. Entries are due by midnight on May 31, 2026, and should be emailed to info@thewritersguild.org.

Oregon Coast Beach Connection

Judges for the contest include Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston, author Cheryl Strayed, and Writers Guild Executive Director Marianne Monson.

Winners in each category will receive a $100 gift card to Lucy’s Bookstore and an Astoria Column Centennial commemorative gift package. Selected works will be featured during the Astoria Column Centennial Community Celebration on July 18, 2026, and published on the official Centennial website www.astoriacolumn100.org.

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Organizers say the contest offers a chance for writers to contribute to the ongoing story of the Lower Columbia region and to honor a landmark that continues to inspire reflection and creativity.

For more information, contact The Writers Guild at info@thewritersguild.org.

The Astoria Column is a 125-foot monument dedicated in 1926 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its spiral sgraffito mural, the only one of its kind in the world, depicts major events in coastal, Oregon and Pacific Northwest history, including Native American heritage and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

See Beginnings, Inspirations of the Astoria Column - N. Oregon Coast History

About The Writers Guild

Founded in 2018 by local authors and Executive Director Marianne Monson, The Writers Guild supports the writing community of Astoria and the Lower Columbia region through workshops, events, and literary programming.

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