The WestSide Story Contest 2008
...is now open for submissions.
First Prize: $300
Second Prize: $150
Third Prize: $50
Entries must be postmarked no later than December 31, 2008. Yes, that's a long way away, but then again, it isn't. So, get your computers fired up and send us your stories, cause this year you're in for a very special treat. We are honored to announce Michael Walsh, former classical music critic for Time Magazine and winner of the 2004 American Book Award for Fiction as this year's judge.
Please scroll down for the complete guidelines for participating in this contest as some of them have changed.
ALSO, AND FURTHERMORE, PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO READ THE NEWLY POSTED WINNING STORIES OF THE 2007 CONTEST
Be well, and, as always,
Happy Writing!
Tatjana
Editor and Founder, The WestSide
THE CONTEST
The WestSide Story Contest is an annual short story contest dedicated to supporting writers and the art of short literary fiction.
Complete Contest Guidelines:
The WestSide Story Contest is open to writers of all genres of literary fiction. All submissions must be in English, previously unpublished, 6,000 words or less,and postmarked by December 31 , 2008. Winners will be notified by March, 2009; the three winning stories, as well as semi-finalists and honorary mentions will be posted on this website.
Entry Fee: $12 per story. Multiple entries and entries from outside the U.S. are welcome.
Make checks payable to: WordShop, Inc.
or use:
Please send entry fee in U.S. Dollars. If you want your manuscript to be returned to you, include an SASE with the necessary amount of postage. Manuscripts without SASE or enough postage will not be returned.
Please write your name and address on your cover letter only.
Entrants retain rights to their stories and are responsible for all copyright issues related to their work.
Mail entries to:
WordShop
The WestSide Story Contest 2008
PO Box 15939
San Francisco , CA 94115
For questions, email us at: wordshop@mac.com
Happy Writing!
The WestSide Story Contest
2007
Thank you to everyone who entered The WestSide Story Contest 2007. We appreciate the opportunity to read your work. Judge David Scott Milton honored the following stories:
First Prize:
Elaborate show in shadow and dream, by Suzanne Cheavens, Telluride, CO
Second Prize:
Gladrags, by D.M. Thomas Jr., Sanford, NC
Third Prize:
My Complexion, by Hillsman Heath, San Anselmo, CA
Honorary Mentions:
Destined to Die, by Juan Bautista, Redondo Beach, CA
Summer Vacation, by Marie Shield, Alhambra, CA
The Wallet, by Porter Smith, Trumansburg, NY
The WestSide Story Contest
2006
Thank you to everyone who entered The WestSide Story Contest 2006. We appreciate the opportunity to read your work. Judge James Engelhardt honored the following stories (click here to read a letter from James Engelhardt):
First Prize
Implosion, by Louise Kantro, Modesto, CA
Second Prize
That Box You Keep Hidden, by Kurt McGinnis Brown, Madison, WI
Third Prize
Making Time for Castles and Kings, by Maureen Landress, Old Town, FL
Semi-Finalists
Earmuffs, by Libby Bideau, Los Angeles, CA
Honorary Mentions
The Beauty of Love, by Elise Marenson, New York, NY
Cake Takers, by Denny Thomas, Sanford, NC
Invisible, by Anne O'Dea, Dublin, Ireland
'Til Dogs Do Us Part, by Phoebe Frank, Calabasas, CA (didn't submit a word document for us to post the story)
March 07: From now on we will also post the stories that came in as semi-finalists and honorary mentions on this site. We hope that you enjoy reading this great collection of diverse pieces of writing.
The WestSide Story Contest
2005
Thank you to everyone who entered The WestSide Story Contest 2005. We appreciate the opportunity to read your work. Thanks to the many strong submissions we've received, it ended up being a close call. Judge Dennis Safren honored the following stories:
First Prize
What Solomon Saw by Mary Dean Cason, Chicago, IL
Second Prize
Stranger In Town by Brad Briggs, Los Angeles, CA
Third Prize
Backup by PB Rippey, North Hollywood, CA
Semi-Finalists
The Taxi Gal Blues, by Toni Plummer, Brooklyn, NY
To Save the World--In Santa Monica, by Curtis Miller, Torrance, CA
Honorary Mentions
The Boy, by Jim Krestalude, Los Angeles, CA
Primal Teens, by Joe Woo