Short Story Contest, Writer’s Workshops at Champaign Library

LOCAL AUTHORS will be teaching a series of free Writer’s Workshops during February and March. The series  culminates in a Short Story Contest. 

2019 Short Story Contest Writer’s Workshops + Award Ceremony

Series events meet from 7–8:30 pm

• Feb 5, Where to Begin – with Aumaine Gruich
• Feb 19 Developing Your Characters – with Molly MacRae
• Mar 5, Creative Writing – with Jim O’Brien
• Mar 19, Finishing Your Story – with Justin Smith
• Apr 11, Short Story Contest Awards Ceremony

Reserve your spot online or call (217) 403-2070.

ENJOY WRITING? Enter the Library’s first Short Story Contest. The top three selected writers will be invited to read their stories on Thursday, April 11, as part of National Library Week celebrations. At the end of the evening, the grand prize winner will be announced. The winning stories will be published on our website for the community to read.

Grand Prize – One-on-one consultation with University of Illinois Creative Writing Director and published author Janice N. Harrington and a professionally taken headshot for your author's portfolio. Opportunity to read your story, or have an actor read it for you, at our Awards Ceremony, and have your story published on our website for the community to read.

2nd + 3rd Place – Opportunity to read your story, or have an actor read it for you, at our Awards Ceremony, and have your story published on our website for the community to read. One-year subscription to Writer’s Digest Magazine.

The judges are Judy Elmore, manager, Jane Addams Book Shop; Patricia Hruby Powell, award-winning author; and Aumaine Gruich, author and writing instructor.

2019 Short Story Contest criteria:

• Entries must be received electronically by Friday, March 19, at midnight.
• Contest is open to writers 18+ years old in Champaign or surrounding counties
• Stories are not limited by theme or genre
• Name of story, author’s name, and word count must appear on the first page.
• One story may be submitted per person.
• Stories must be written in English, original, and unpublished at time of submission.
• Stories that do not fit with these criteria will be automatically disqualified.
• Entries into the contest are final. No changes or substitutions may be made.
• The Library reserves the right to reject or disqualify any story that does not adhere to these rules.

Formatting:
• Up to 2500 words
• 12 point font size
• Times New Roman or Arial font type
• 1 inch margins
• 1.5 line spacing
• pdf or Microsoft Word

• Entries must be received by Tuesday, March 19, at midnight, for consideration. Submit your story using this online form.