All of the work is now with the judges for review with a deadline of November 14. We will announce the winners soon after. Thank you to all that entered this year!

After careful consideration and discussion, and a review of online awards, the library has decided that we will postpone the Joy of the Pen reception until the summer. What we envision is an outside celebration, possibly a tea party, that will celebrate the winners of all our joys this year: Joy of Art, Joy of the Lens and Joy of the Pen. Of course, you are all invited! We hope it will give us all something to look forward to throughout the winter months.

It’s nearly time to start submitting to this year’s Joy of the Pen! Submissions open on Saturday, September 5th. All our sponsors have confirmed for another year and we’re adding three new categories this year: Kids fiction, kids poetry and pandemic reflections (all ages).

Joy of the Pen New Poster

You can now read this year’s winners, look at the judges’ bios and see photos from the reception all updated on this site! Also, look out in the next Cryer for a special feature!

The deadline is here. We have all of the submissions in and they’ll be winging their way to the judges by the end of the week!

Good news, everyone! Joy of the Pen is open for submissions on Saturday, September 7. The Cryer, Friends of the Topsham Public Library, Just Write Books and the TPL Teen Room are all joining us again as sponsors! Please share this poster far and wide!

Joy of the Pen New Poster

You can now read the winners’ work on the front page of this journal: joyofthepen.topshamlibrary.org.

This year’s judges bios can be found here.

This year’s entrants can be found here.

Thank you to everyone who came to the reception on Saturday and made it such a wonderful event. My special thanks to:

Everyone who entered the competition.

Charles Crosby and the Cryer for sponsoring our named awards and speaking at the reception.

Nancy Randolph and Just Write Books for sponsoring the Maine Nonfiction Award.

Our judges this year: Dana Cary, Laufey, John Leggett, Nancy Randolph and Diane Waterhouse.

The Friends of the Public Library, especially Melissa Hoy, Mathea Hoy and Ruth Mlotek for their help.

The staff at Topsham Public Library.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Thank you so much to all entrants for entering the Joy of the Pen this year. Our judges have given their decision and all of the winners and honorable mentions have been contacted. If you are one of those winners, congratulations! If you are not then we are extremely thankful for you taking part. I would like to invite everyone to come and hang out with us on Saturday, November 17^th at 1pm for the reception.

Please share far and wide!

Joy of the Pen flyer

Joy of the Pen small flyer

Submissions for Joy of the Pen will be opening this Saturday! Hope you can join us again this year! We now have two teen categories: Teen Poetry and Teen Fiction!