Now accepting entries for North State Voices

Do you have something to say?

Have we got a deal — and the space — for you.

The Enterprise-Record is now accepting applications for our next round of “North State Voices” columnists.

This weekly feature has been a popular part of our Opinion page for nearly 20 years, and with 2022 uncomfortably close to an end, we’re looking ahead to who is going to be a part of the page in 2023.

As usual, whoever we choose is going to have a lot of tough acts to follow.

Each group of North State Voices columnists seems to take on its own identity, and this year, we are blessed with a great group of storytellers. As anyone who has read the columns from Ernie Washington, Sheryl Kennedy, Kathy Steenson and Ronald Angle know, they’ve led some very interesting lives, and have no shortage of stories to tell as a result — many personal, and most hitting a chord with a wide crosssection of readers because their stories are so relatable.

One more thing we’ll note about this group: More than one of our current columnists had entered numerous times in the past without finishing among the chosen four, although sometimes they came very close. They kept trying, and here they are. Persistence is often rewarded in this endeavor, and we welcome people who have entered (but not won) in the past to keep entering.

Each of our current columnists have made their mark on this series. Now it’s your turn.

North State Voices runs on our Opinion page every Thursday, with columnists taking turns. So, each columnist ends up writing 13 columns in one calendar year.

The key is, we want your words on things that impact your life on a day-to-day (or even year-to-year) basis. We really don’t need more viewpoints on Washington or national politics or even politics in Butte County — we have plenty of those elsewhere on our Opinion pages, from a variety of sources. (That’s not to say we wouldn’t listen if you have a particularly powerful personal story about how something on that level has impacted your life, but, generally speaking, we’re more interested in real-life, first-person stories.)

The application process is quite simple.

First, put together a cover letter, telling us a little about yourself and why you’re interested in becoming a North State Voices columnist. We’ll also need two sample columns — approximately 600 words apiece — as well as at least three other column topics you’d like to tackle during the year.

That’s it. You can email your submission to voices@chicoer.com. Just write “North State Voices” in the subject line. Please send the entry as straight text in your email; no attachments.

You can also mail your application packet to: North State Voices, Enterprise-Record/Mercury-Register, P.O. Box 9, Chico, CA, 95927.

Your deadline is Friday, Dec. 2. Once the entries are received, we’ll convene a panel of judges and notify the four winners by the second week of December. (We are also accepting applications to be a judge; email us at “voices@chicoer. com” if you’re interested.)

You can expect our first “new” North State Voices columnist to appear Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023. And, just by following the steps outlined above, it might be you.