Tell Your Story’s Fall 2021 Writing Contest — $1,000 in Prizes
The Spring contest was so successful I’m doing it again — even bigger and better.
Calling all writers! Announcing Tell Your Story’s Fall 2021 creative nonfiction contest!
Tell Your Story is already home to some of the best creative nonfiction on Medium, and I want to keep the momentum going.
So our 2nd ever contest is even bigger and better than the first. Prize money has more than tripled, thanks to a generous donation as well as Medium’s bonus program… TYS readers/writers have helped me earn the bonus, so I’m giving my June payout right back to you. There will also be a print version available on Amazon, with all revenue split between contributors. More details below…
Rules / etc.:
- Previously unpublished creative nonfiction only, please. For examples of what we’re looking for, check out the winners from the Spring contest:
2. There is no theme… write about whatever your heart desires.
3. Prizes. For the Spring 2021 contest, three winners each won $100. This time, there will be awards for 1st place ($250), 2nd place ($150), and 3rd place ($100). In addition, all finalists not placing in the top 3 (up to 10 additional stories) will receive $50, bringing the total possible reward pool to $1,000. Awards will be distributed via PayPal, as will the split from any revenue generated by Amazon sales of the print publication of finalists & winners. I realize that PayPal is not used in every part of the world, and I apologize. This is the only way that I can manage payment at this time. By entering, you agree to receive any award via PayPal or forfeit the award.
4. I (Chris Sowers) am the judge. For now, it’s just little old me. Maybe someday we’ll have guest judges. That’s a cool idea.
5. Shorter is better. 2,000 word maximum, less than that is ideal. There is no minimum. If it takes 200 words to tell your story, then it only needs to be 200 words.
6. Entry deadline is midnight US Eastern time on September 15, 2021.
7. You may submit up to three pieces, but are only eligible for one prize. Only one of your pieces, if selected, will be a winner or finalist.
8. Submit via email to [email protected]. You can send a Word doc, link to a Google doc, or link to your Medium draft. If selected as a finalist or winner, I’ll ask you to submit a Medium draft to TYS in late September / early October.
9. I’m a writing coach, meaning clients pay me to help them with their writing. Current clients as of July 11, 2021 through September 15, 2021, are not eligible. That just feels wrong and potentially illegal.
10. Winners will be announced in early October, 2021.
11. By entering, you agree to have your piece, if selected as a winner or finalist, included in a print edition to be published and available via Amazon in late 2021. Selling price for this has yet to be determined. All sales revenue will be divided equally between me (Chris) and all contributors. For example, if we publish 10 finalists plus 3 winners, all sales revenue will be divided equally between 14 of us (13 writers plus me). I will track all sales data via my Amazon author account, and will provide this data upon request. Revenue will be distributed at the end of each month via PayPal.
I will ask that winners and finalists allow me to keep their pieces on the Medium version of TYS for a minimum of two months, but this is obviously not enforceable. It is a kindhearted request that I hope you will agree with.
I’ve probably left some details uncovered and questions unanswered. Please leave a comment here or shoot me an email (address in #8 above) with any questions.
Thank you! Looking forward to reading your submissions. -Chris