application form

Write prose. Fly to Cusco. Win a book contract. Sound like fun?

how to apply as a contestant on write or flight

what you need to apply

  1. A completed application form

  2. A writing sample up to 2000 words

  3. A video up to one minute in length

You’ll find more details in the sections below.

tips before getting started

You’ll find the submission process easier if you use Google Drive. We ask you to submit your writing sample and video by sending us links. The easiest way to do this is to use Google Docs for your writing sample and Google Drive to upload your video. Both of these options are free for anyone with a G-mail account.

However, we will accept any link when it comes to your writing sample and video.

Please do not write to ask us how to use Google Docs and Drive. There is plenty of information online. Or ask a friend or family member for help if you need it.

STEP ONE: start your APPLICATION FORM

You will find the form here. Start to fill it out. However, don’t click SUBMIT until you’ve completed all of the steps below.

STEP TWO: figure out your book’s premise

One of the questions on the application form asks you for a one-sentence description of the memoir you plan to write. For help with this, you’ll find a useful video here. For more info, you can also watch this video.

STEP three: CRAFT YOUR WRITING SAMPLE

Want some tips on what we’re looking for here? Basically, your writing sample should give us a feel for your narrative voice. We want to make sure you can write great prose. Not sure what that means exactly? Check out this playlist with lots of helpful tips.

Don’t doubt yourself either! In our experience, the writers with the most self-doubt tend to be much more talented than they give themselves credit for.

We will accept a writing sample up to 2000 words long. We suggest you do not submit an essay. We are looking for an excerpt from a memoir. We don’t need any context or expect a full story in such a short amount of space. We are judging you solely on the quality of your narrative voice.

To submit your writing sample, we suggest uploading your text to Google Docs or any other platform that gives you a sharable link. Copy the link and paste it in the appropriate blank on your application form.

STEP four: RECORD A SHORT VIDEO OF YOURSELF

We can’t wait to meet you! So don’t stress out about this part of the process. All we’re looking for is a sense of your personality. With this in mind, grab your cell phone, hold it vertically, and record the answer to this question: What was your favorite TV show as a kid and why?

Try and be as honest as you can, whether your answer is funny or sad or silly or poignant. We like sincerity above all else.

You don’t need to edit your video but you can if you like. We’re not worried about video quality but we do want to be able to see you clearly and hear you.

Once your video is ready, upload it to Google Drive or the application of your choice and add the link to your application form.

STEP five: SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION FORM

Double-check that you’ve completed everything correctly and click the SUBMIT button. Congratulations! Your application is on its way.

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • Rest assured that if you followed the directions, we have received your application form. Please don’t write with questions. We don’t have the staff resources to answer emails.

  • Finalists will be notified by March 15, 2025 via email. We will only notify you if you have been chosen to move on to the final round. We apologize but we don’t have the resources to notify applicants who weren’t chosen to advance to the finals round.

  • You don’t need to do anything but wait a couple of week for us to make our final decision with regards to contestants. Hang tight and don’t stress!

  • Absolutely. In the event that you win, we will ask you to take down your self-published version.

  • Contestants will have their airfare covered by Write or Flight, assuming they are from the United States or Canada. If you are from a different country and are selected as a participant, we will work with you to make the cost of the airfare possible. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

  • No need to speak Spanish. We’ll have a crew of people here to help.