Submission period: Nov 1-Jan 31

Eligibility: You must be a CAL member to enter (See Membership tab above)

Categories: Multiple writing categories are judged from essays, articles, and poetry to full-length novels.

Categories also include illustration, cover design, and graphic novels.

2022 Awards announcements: May /June

Awards ceremomy: July

Contest Info & Entry

Joe Nigg

recipient of the 2021

Lifetime Achievement Award

Interview

Watch past Award Ceremonies

79th Annual CAL Writing Awards Video

hosted by Kevin and Jodi Bowersox

80th Annual CAL Writing Awards Video

hosted by Jody Pritzl

Did you miss our Co-op Booths?

You can still find great books by CAL authors.
Check out our Genre Pages !

Autographed books are a great way to spend your Christmas cash!

Contact the authors directly to get your signed copies!

Wilson Rockwell

Known as the “Western Colorado historian” former CAL member Wilson Rockwell wrote several books. The titles include Uncompahgre Country; New Frontier-1938; Driftwood- 1940; No Way-1950; Sunset Slope- 1956; The Utes –a Forgotten People-1956; and Memoirs of a Lawman-1962. He contributed to many Colorado newspapers and magazines.  He also hosted several radio programs including- True Epics of Western Colorado and Frontier Reminiscences and the T.V. series Uncompahgre Frontier. Read More 

Read about Thomas Hornby Ferril, first Colorado Poet Laureate.

Read about Marian Castle     

Edwina Hume Fallis
Early CAL Member

CAL member Edwina Fallis was the daughter of a president of the Denver school board. She became an outstanding teacher, and wrote many books for children. She taught in the Gilpin School and Whittier and Lincoln Schools. Her students learned the art of listening to a story and encouraged them to write. She used creative toys and props to bring stories to life. She turned to a manufacturer to produce her learning toys and opened the Fallis Toy Shop. Read More

 Read About William Edmund Barrett 

Read about Lillian de la Torre

Frances Traher

1917-2012

Traher's professional career was distinguished by 7 Colorado Authors League Top Hand awards, and her spouse was internationally acclaimed mural painter William Traher (1908-1984).

During WWII, Frances was Continuity Director at KOY Radio in Phoenix, AZ. Working alongside announcer Steve Allen, who later became a popular TV personality. She oversaw station programming and hosted her own radio show.

She was best known for her feature articles in national art publications, as well as dozens of fiction stories exploring contemporary women's issues. Read More

Read About Mary Coyle Chase