This contest was designed to encourage people to safely explore historic Downtown Wooster, OHIO – USA, get inspired, and get creative. Here are the rules:
Contest Guidelines:
To qualify, stories must:
- Be written in English
- Be less than 5000 words
- Be appropriate for readers ages 13+
- Take place in Downtown Wooster for at least half of the word count
- Have some factual basis (examples include historical fiction, realistic fiction, and creative non-fiction).
Submission Deadline: February 8, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Prizes:
- First Place: $300, publication of story in the Daily Record, and audio version of story produced by WQKT.
- Second Place: $150
- Third Place: $50
- Top ten stories will be published in an anthology which will be offered for sale, proceeds to benefit Organizer’s non-profit mission. Each of the authors included in the anthology will be provided one paperback copy, free of charge.
For more information, please see the Contest Rules.*
Special thanks to our sponsors:
The Kelly Brunn Passion Fund for the cash prizes
MCTV for paperback publication of the anthology
Daily Record for publication of the first prize winner
WQKT for production of an audio book of the first prize winner
*Rules subject to change without notice
Visit the website: https://sites.google.com/mainstreetwooster.org/short-story-contest/home
Contest Organizer:
This Short Story Competition (“Contest”) is presented by Main Street Wooster, Inc., a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization (“Organizer”).
Submission Deadline:
February 8, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Prizes:
First Place: $300, publication of Entry in the Daily Record, and audio version of Entry produced by WQKT.
Second Place: $150
Third Place: $50
Top ten Entries will be published in an anthology which will be offered for sale, proceeds to benefit Organizer’s non-profit mission. Each of the Authors included in the anthology will be provided one free paperback copy.
No other consideration will be given for Entries. Organizer may solicit sponsorships, and any funds raised in excess of the Contest expenses may be used in the normal course of Organizer’s business.
Contest Guidelines:
To qualify, Entries must:
- Be a standalone short story
- Be written in English
- Be less than 5,000 words
- Be appropriate for readers ages 13+, decided at the discretion of the Organization
- Take place in downtown Wooster for at least half of the word count
- Have some factual basis (examples include historical fiction, realistic fiction, and creative non-fiction).
- Draw attention to life in Wooster or Wooster as a setting, with the understanding that the goal of the Contest is to showcase Wooster, OH. Preference will be given to those stories that can seamlessly weave facts and details about Wooster into the overall narrative, whether those details be contemporary or historical.
Formatting Guidelines:
- Separate Title Page:
- Top right must contain:
- Author’s Name,
- Author’s Email
- Author’s Phone Number
- Word Count
- Genre of the Entry
- Title must be centered
- Underneath the title, a short paragraph summarizing which parts are factual.
- Font = 12 point Times New Roman
- Double-Spaced
- Left-Justified
Submission of Stories:
There are no fees to submit stories to the Contest. By submitting a story, Authors consent and agree to all Contest rules, terms, and eligibility requirements. The Organizers are not responsible for any Entries which are not received prior to the Deadline. Entries must be emailed to Shannon@MainStreetWooster.org with the subject line “Short Story Contest Entry.” Entries may be submitted by one of two methods:
- Preferred Method: Attach the Entry as (1) a Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), or (2) another editable text document format usable by the majority of commercial word processors. Multiple Entries may be submitted per email with this method.
- Alternate Method: Paste your entire story, including title page, in the body of your email. Only one story per email may be submitted with this method.
Repeat Entries:
There is no limit on the number of stories an Author may submit for the Contest (each an “Entry”).
Author Requirements:
The Contest is open to all legal U.S. residents who are (1) 18 years of age or older or (2) those under 18 who have the express consent of a parent or guardian (“Author”). Parents of minors must agree to sign any required releases which may be necessary.
The Entry Must Not Violate Any Laws:
Author must be the creator of the Entry and own all rights to the Entry and its contents. The Entry must not violate any laws, including but not limited to copyright, plagiarism, defamation, libel, the right of publicity or right to privacy. Entries may not feature characters, locations, terms, or any other content protected by another’s copyright, trademark, or intellectual property rights. Upon submitting an Entry to the Contest, Author represents that the Author created the Entry and has the sole rights to use it and to grant the Organization a license to use it. Authors are solely responsible for any infringement on copyrighted materials and will indemnify and hold the Organizers harmless from any and all claims of the same which may be asserted by third parties, including but not limited to the Organizers’ reasonable attorney’s fees incurred. The Organizers reserve the right to request proof that an Entry is an Author’s original content.
Non-exclusive Permissions:
By entering this Contest, the Author grants the Organization a non-exclusive, royalty-free, irrevocable, and perpetual license to use the Entry in whole or in part for any and all purposes related to the normal course of business of the Organizer or related to the commercial use of the Entry.
Previously Unpublished Entries Only
Contest is only open to Entries that have not been previously commercially published.
Simultaneous Submissions
Contest is open to simultaneous submissions of Entries sent to publishers, journals, or other contests at the same time as they are under consideration for this Contest. Authors must send written notice to the Organization in the event that a simultaneously submitted Entry is accepted for publication in any way that may impede the rights of the Organization to the Entry.
Editing:
Organizer reserves the right to edit the winning Entries prior to any form of publication.
Main Street Wooster, Inc., 377 W. Liberty St., Wooster, OH 44691
Main Street Wooster works to make our historic downtown a vibrant place to dine, shop, live and play.
Visit the website: https://sites.google.com/mainstreetwooster.org/short-story-contest/home
Creative Writing Contests 