short short story contest

It's time to write!

7th Annual Short Short Story Contest

100 words - four topics - prizes - e-publication

ages: 14+

registration fee: $15 per story

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the challenge

Write a story using no more than 100 words on one of these topics:

March 2, 2026 - 12:00 am

Submission Fee is $15 a story. You can submit as many stories as you want, so long as you pay a submission fee for each story.

Minimum age: 14

After you register, we will send you a link to the story submission form.

Does the story address the topic in an imaginative, creative, or unexpected way?
Does the author create a clear and coherent story where something happens?
Does the story contain a theme or idea?
Does the quality of the writing enhance the story?
Did the story have a memorable impact on the reader?

We will award 6 prizes

Best of Contest: $200 cash prize (1 winner)

Best of Category: writer's gift (4 winners)

Best Youth Story (for writers 14 to 17): writer's gift (1 winner)

Winning and honorable mention stories will be published in an e-magazine.

If you have questions, please email us at shortstory@ethosliteracy.org.