Short Story Contest, Writer’s Workshops at Champaign Library

The Champaign Public Library launched the Writer’s Workshop series in spring 2019, combining hands-on workshops taught by experts and a Short Story Contest for community members.

Writer’s Workshops

Fall Series | Live Webinars

• Sep 9, Where to Begin, 7 pm – Ekta Garg 7 pm
• Sep 23, Creative Writing – Maisie Sparks, 7 pm
• Oct 7, Character Development – Ekta Garg, 7 pm
• Oct 21, Plot Development – Nadine Kenney Johnstone, 7 pm
• Nov 4, Finishing Your Story – Molly MacRae, 7 pm
• Nov 18, Short Story Awards Ceremony & Reading, 7 pm

Reservations are required, so sign up to get the Zoom link.

2020 Short Story Contest

Enter to win! Stories can be up to 2500 words. Entries due November 6, 2020. Guidelines + entry form »

Grand Prize – One-on-one consultation with Ted Sanders, Department of English, University of Illinois. 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.

2019 Short Story Contest

Champaign Public Library’s first Short Story Contest drew a pool  of wonderful entries by community members, including participants in the Writer’s Workshops series. In April 2019, as part of National Library Week celebrations, the top three stories were read publicly and the awards were announced. Congratulations to the winners!

• 1st Place Winner – Jessica Launius, “To the West” | Read story »
• 2nd Place Winner – Murillo Soranso, “Questions” | Read story »
• 3rd Place Winner – Julie Wagner, “First Haunt” | Read story »

Winners of Champaign Public Library’s 2019 Short Story Contest (from left): Murillo Soranso, second place; Julie Wagner, third place; and Jessica Launius, first place.