PUB: Oregon Writers Colony Short Story Contest

Short Story Contest                                 

(For the Elizabeth Bolton Poetry Contest, click here.)

For a printable flyer on both contests, click here. 

Contest deadline: August 15, 2010

Short Story - both True and Imagined Awards:
  • First prize: $200
  • Second prize: $100
  • Third prize: $50
  • First Honorable Mention: Certificate of Achievement.
  • Additional Honorable Mentions credited in Colonygram and on OWC website.
  • First place winners are featured on the cover of the Colonygram. All winners listed inside Colonygram and on this website.
  • Winners are invited to read from their winning entry at the awards ceremony.

 Short Story Contest Rules:

  • Original, unpublished short story, fiction or nonfiction.
  • Word limit: 2500 max.
  • Fee per entry: $10/OWC member, $15/non-member
  • $10 optional fee for judges’ constructive critiques.
  • Standard manuscript format (double-spaced, one-inch margins, 12pt. Courier or Times Roman font).
  • Title, word count and category (fiction, nonfiction) on first page.
  • NO author name on story. This is an anonymous contest.
  • Multiple entries okay.
  • One entry per submission packet.
Include in Short Story submission packet:
  • Four stapled copies of one entry. (Keep originals; entries will not be returned.)
  • One business envelope -- labeled fiction or nonfiction -- with the following inside:
    • Check for entry fee. (Can combine with optional critique fee.)
    • 3x5 card (please no odd-sized cards) with:
  1. Category (fiction or nonfiction)
  2. Entry title
  3. Name, address, phone, email
  4. OWC member or non-member
  5. How you heard about this contest. Specifically -  if online, where?
  6. Critique request if you include optional critique fee.
  • SASP (Self-addressed stamped postcard for receipt and your piece of mind.)
  • #10 SASE if you request judges’ constructive critiques (mailed to you in early October.)

Judging Criteria (for fiction and nonfiction short stories only, not necessarily in order of importance.) 

  • Plot (hook, complications, climax, satisfying resolution).
  • Evokes emotion in reader (e.g. chuckle, sadness).
  • Theme (what story is about beyond the plot (e.g. courage/fear, loss/gain).
  • Mechanics (grammar, point of view, showing/telling etc.).
  • Sensory detail 
  • Originality
  • Depth of character/character arc
  • Tension Follows contest director's nit-picky Contest Rules

Mailing address for Short Stories - Both True and Imagined:

OWC Contest

C. Lill Ahrens

306 NW 32nd St.

Corvallis, OR 97330

For inquiries email C. Lill Ahrens

via oregonwriterscolony.org