Short Story Contest, Writer’s Workshops at Champaign Library

Like to write? Hone your skills and connect with other writers at our Writer’s Workshops. We launched this series in spring 2019, combining hands-on workshops taught by experts and an annual Short Story Contest for community members.

You’ll find listings of the latest workshops here, along with links to read stories by all the contest winners.

2025 Short Story Contest

Enter to win! Stories can be up to 2500 words.   Submission form will open September 3, 2025. Entries  due November  7, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Guidelines +  entry form   

Grand Prize – One-on-one consultation with a professional writer.  Professional headshot for your author’s portfolio. An annual membership to MasterClass for access to online writing courses. Opportunity to read your story, or have an actor read it for you, at the Short Story 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 the  Short Story Awards Ceremony, and have your story published on our website for the community to read. One-year subscription to Writer’s Digest Magazine.

Writer’s Workshops

Wednesdays at 7 pm

• Jul 16, Open Mic Night, 7 pm
• Aug 6, Creative Writing Tips, 7 pm – Jim O'Brien
• Aug 20, The Craft of Worldbuilding, 7 pm – Ted Sanders
  

Writer’s Workshops on YouTube

You can also watch recordings of 50+ workshops on the library’s YouTube channel. Instructors include local authors Jim O’Brien, Ekta Garg, John Milas, and Molly MacRae, plus former New York Times Op-Ed page editor Trish Hall. Go to YouTube »

2024 Winners

Our 2024 Short Story Contest included entries from community members who participated in the Writer’s Workshops series. The top three stories were read publicly and the awards were announced at ceremony in November 2024. The judges were Heidi Esther, Megan Montgomery, and Ted Sanders.  Congratulations to the winners!

• 1st Place – Claudia Vizcarra, “What the Swamp Takes” | Read story »
  
• 2nd Place – Deborah Keene, “Carrie’s Tuesday” | Read story »
  
• 3rd Place – Andrea Alghalith, “Miracle Weavers” | Read story »
  

Winners of the 2024 Short Story Contest (from left): Andrea Alghalith, third place; Claudia Vizcarra, first place; and Deborah Keene, second place.

2023 Winners

Our 2023 Short Story Contest included entries from community members who participated in the Writer’s Workshops series. The top three stories were read publicly and the awards were announced at a ceremony in November 2023. The judges were Maisie Sparks and Kallan Buss. Congratulations to the winners!

• 1st Place – Josh Loomis, “The Dance of a Lifetime” | Read story »
  
• 2nd Place – Yael Zeiri, “Jane” | Read story »
  
• 3rd Place – Simon Johnson, “Faces” | Read story »
  

Winners of the 2023 Short Story Contest (from left): Simon Johnson, third place; Yael Zeiri, second place; and Josh Loomis, first place.

2022 Winners

• 1st Place – Jessica Launius, “Stumble” | Read story »
  
• 2nd Place – Bethan Owen, “Thank You for Giving One Hundred and Ten Percent” | Read story »
  
• 3rd Place – Drew Adamek, “Vacation Home” | Read story »
  

Winners of the 2022 Short Story Contest (from left): Drew Adamek, third place; Bethan Owen, second place; and Jessica Launius, first place.

2021 Winners

• 1st Place – James F. Smith, “A Portrait of Entropy” | Read story »
  
• 2nd Place – J.L. Barr, “Good Things” | Read story »
  
• 3rd Place – Louise Audrieth, “An Unkindness of Ravens” | Read story »
  

First place winner of the 2021 Short Story Contest, James F. Smith.

2020 Winners

• 1st Place – Andrea Alghalith, “Lulu” | Read story »
  
• 2nd Place – Bethan Owen, “Seashell Bones” | Read story »
  
• 3rd Place – Louise Audrieth, “Sarah and Me” | Read story »
  

First place winner of the 2020 Short Story Contest, Andrea Alghalith.

2019 Winners

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

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