Are you ready to write?!
WHAT WE WANT
It’s time to get started on your submission for the 5th annual ec fiction contest. Your story MUST be an original, never-before-published fiction story written entirely by YOU! Strive to write a story that is interesting and relates to teens. Your submission should also highlight God’s faithfulness in some way.
• Submissions should be no more than 750-1000 words long and must be submitted as a .doc or .docx file and sent as an attachment via email to godlifefun@gmail.com. (If you absolutely cannot create those types of files, please copy your story into the body of an email.) Put “2011 fiction contest” in the subject line.
• Submissions must be received by midnight on December 15, 2011, to be judged. Please include your name, mailing address, grade you’re currently in, email address, phone number, and T-shirt size in the email with your submission.
• The competition will include two divisions: high school and middle school.
Grades 6-9: middle school category
Grades 10-12: high school category.
Writers must be between the ages of 12-19 to enter.
PROMPTS
Your story must begin with ONE of the following prompts:
• Zach and Katie have just met. For one of them, it’s his/her first day at a new high school. Write the rest of their story.
• The cancer is back after three years in remission. Begin your story with this sentence. Where does it go from there?
• The teen stuffed the book in his/her backpack and left the room. Your story MUST include this sentence. You decide what happens!
OFFICIAL RULES
To read the official rules and regulations, click here.
“The cancer is back after three years in submission” I was just wondering, shouldn’t it be ‘remission’ and not ‘submission’? Could you please email me at lynsie.petersen@gmail.com? Please and thank you. -Lynsie
You are correct. And we’ve fixed it! Thanks
Hi My name is abbey wilson I would LOVE to enter this contest but the age limit is 12-19 I’m 21 can I still enter it?????
Unfortunately, no. We are primarily a magazine for teens, so we had to place the cut-off at 19. Thank you for you interest and keep reading ec!
BUT we are always looking for new writers and people who have a passion for writing and teens. Check out our writers’ guidelines: http://ecmagazine.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/writer-guidelines.pdf
I have a question. I just started college. The grades are from 7-12. Can I still enter? I’m 18.
The official rules say that contestants must be enrolled in grades 7-12, so we have to say no. But we are always on the lookout for new writers and fresh voices, so please check out our writers’ guidelines: http://ecmagazine.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/writer-guidelines.pdf.
Hey, I live in Alberta, does that mean I cannot enter? And if so, why?
Hey, Priscilla! Thank you for your comment. Unfortunately, because sweepstakes and contests are so heavily regulated by federal laws, we have to restrict this contest to the U.S. We hate that this fact leaves people out! Even so, we have to abide by the official rules and trust the advice of our legal department in order to make sure our contest doesn’t break any of the federal regulations. I am so sorry! Please contact me at mandy.crow@lifeway.com for more conversation on this matter!
OK thanks. I do read EC, and think it rocks, keep it up. +)
=)
This sounds so super awesome~ I can’t wait! I definitely want to do this~!
Do it! You’ll have a ton of fun
I have a question, does this story have to be something that could happen in real life, or can it be more creative?
That is entirely up to you. It is a fiction contest, so don’t just write an essay about something that really happened. But in the realm of fiction, it can be based entirely in fact or be sci-fi or fantasy. Last year’s winning piece in the high school division reminded us a lot of Ted Dekker. One year, we had a story that was in the vein of The Chronicles of Narnia. Many students write fiction stories that sound like everyday life. So it’s up to you, but do be creative and have fun!
Can it be more than 1000 words?
It needs to stay as close to the word count as possible. We have to have word counts and stick to them so we set aside enough pages in the magazine to print the stories!
I read in one of the moments above that it is restricted to the US. But I was born in the States and lived their till I was 11. I am now a Missionary Kid in Europe, 13 years old. I am really interested, and have been looking for a good writing contest for a while. Can I still enter? If not can I just send it in for feedback? One more thing I subscribe to the EC magazine, and LOVE it! That is how I found out about the contest.
I just talked to one of our friends in our legal department, and you are correct. The contest is restricted to the U.S. We are so sorry that this is the case!
But if you want to write a story anyway and send it to us, we’d be happy to read it and give you feedback!
Thank you, I will do that. Do I just send it in with the same subject and everything, with a message attached? What do I do to separate mine from the others?
Sydnie left a comment in another area of our blog that said “i would like to do ec’s fiction contest…… i just need an idea.” Here’s our reply to Sydnie, just in case anyone is interested!
Hi Sydnie,
We’re so glad to hear you’re interested in our fiction contest! Ideas are the hardest part of any project, aren’t they? Just in case you’re looking for a way to get your creative juices flowing, here are some suggestions to help you. You don’t have to do it this way. It’s just one way your “process” might go.
1. Review the contest information (in this blog post) under “what we want.”
2. Look over the prompts we’ve given you, and choose one that you like. Write it on a note card and carry it around with you for a day or two. Think about it, but not too much. Try to imagine something about your characters: what do they look and sound like?
3. Find someplace quiet to sit down with a notebook and write out 25 ways your story could go. Yes, 25! This is your time to get really inventive. “Sydnie liked pickles and wanted to someday to walk on the moon in high heels.” “Aaron was a rock and roll star who left it all for a new puppy named George.”
4. Now, be a ruthless editor and hone down your ideas to a top 5 that can actually work. Think about them for a day or two, and one will probably bubble up to the top of your brain more than the others.
5. Start writing! Try to remember the things you imagined your character doing. Write till you’re finished. And when you’re finished, put it away from you for a day, then come back and try to read it as your audience (instead of as the writer). Change anything you feel isn’t clear or could be worded better.
Then, make sure your story is the right length, and don’t forget to run spell-check. And turn it in to us by the deadline!
Here’s to great stories!
Jen
Can I change the spelling of the names?
Yes. The spelling can change, but the names have to stay the same.
I am 17. i think i will write for this years contest i was going to enter last year but decided not to. This year I feel better about my writing skills and im looking forward to writing for the contest
Good! At least try! It will be fun
okay ill give it a shot
does the story have to start with one of the prompts?
Can you give Zack and Katie last names?
Yes, you can give them last names! Can’t wait to read what you’re working on!
I won the middle school contest last year. Am I allowed to enter for a chance to win this year too or at least be a runner up? Last year was so much fun!
There’s nothing in our rules that keeps you from writing again this year. Plus, it will be interesting for the judges to see how you’ve grown as a writer!
hey all of you out there god loves you
I’m going to adapt a story I’ve already written to fit the second prompt “The cancer is back after three years in remission.” Am I allowed to make the story a series of journal entries? The sentence you gave would be the first real sentence, but it would have a traditional journal header at the top (date, Dear Diary). Is this allowable?
How strict is the wordcount? Like, I’m at 1220 words and don’t really want to take more out. Would I be disqualified for that?
I have the one of the prompts in the first paragraph of my story, but it’s not the first sentence. Is that okay?
The official rules say the story “must begin” with one of the prompts. In our minds, that means it must be one of the very first sentences.