The Eastern Shore Writers’ Association has kicked off the second Bay to Ocean Writing Contest with a call for entries from writers.

The contest, sponsored by the Eastern Shore Writers’ Association and Delmarva Quarterly magazine, will honor first-rate writing in three categories: short fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry. It is open to all writers, regardless of where they live, what type of writing they do or what subject matter they choose.

“There are many fine writers across the Delmarva Peninsula, and we hope to encourage them with this contest,” said Wilson Wyatt, coordinator of the Bay to Ocean Writers Conference. “Good writing has no boundaries. We welcome all writers.”

Judges of the 2009 Bay to Ocean Writing Contest

• Short fiction: Award-winning writer and instructor Kate Blackwell, author of “You Won’t Remember This” and writing instructor in the Washington, D.C.-area and the Eastern Shore, kateblackwell.com • Creative nonfiction: Sheila Buckmaster, editor at large, National Geographic Traveler magazine • Poetry: Award-winning poet Anne Colwell, associate professor of English, University of Delaware

First-place winners will receive a $100 cash prize and free admission to the 13th annual Bay to Ocean Writers Conference at Chesapeake College Feb. 20. The winning prose and poetry will be considered for publication by the Delmarva Quarterly.

Only original, unpublished work will be accepted. The length allowed will be 1,500 words for short fiction and creative nonfiction, and up to 40 lines for each poem. Writers may submit up to two entries for fiction and nonfiction or up to five poems.

A processing fee will be charged for each entry: $5 for poems; $10 for fiction or nonfiction. Checks should be made out to the Eastern Shore Writers’ Association, marked “Writing Contest,” and mailed to Writing Contest, P.O. Box 554, St. Michaels, MD 21663.

The submission deadline is Tuesday, Dec. 1. Entries must be submitted electronically only, by email attachment as a Word document to BTOContest@gmail.com.

Contest information is available at sites.google.com/site/btocontest.

The Eastern Shore Writers’ Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to writers and the literary arts across the tri-state Delmarva Peninsula. Its website is easternshorewriters.org.

The Bay to Ocean Writers Conference is a regional educational conference for all writers. Past conferences have sold out in advance. For more information, visit baytoocean.com.