National Teen Storyteller Writing Contest — June 2020

This contest is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated.

Creative writers, aged 14 to 18, are invited to submit a flash fiction story that thoughtfully explores LGBTQ themes to the Center for Fiction’s National Teen Storyteller Writing Contest, presented in partnership with the student-led and founded Decameron Project!

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We are partnering with the Decameron Project, a student-run nonprofit that aims to empower students to express themselves creatively and share their stories, even amidst school closures and other hardships posed by COVID-19.

This contest is part of our Inside and Out Pride 2020 literary series, which offers solace and affirmation to the LGBTQ community during a time of isolation from trusted social groups and support networks. It is intended to be a positive, loving, and affirming celebration of LGBTQ identity and pride. Any entries that promote disrespectful views will be immediately disqualified.

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Award

The first-place winner will receive a Center for Fiction tote bag and a $100 gift certificate to our bookstore; the second-place winner will receive a tote bag and a $50 gift certificate, and the third-place winner will receive a tote bag and $25 gift certificate. The three winning stories will be published on the Center for Fiction and Decameron Project’s websites. Final decisions regarding winners and finalists will be made by the Center for Fiction staff. Winners will be announced on June 30, 2020.

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Rules and Eligibility

• Submissions accepted between June 1 and June 25
• One submission per storyteller
• Storytellers must be between the ages of 14 and 18 at the time of submission
• Stories must be between 300 and 1,000 words (the title is not included in word count)
• At this time we can only consider stories written in English
• Storytellers do not have to identify as LGBTQ to participate in contest!