Short Story Contest 2024-2025

LCPL Short Story Contest logo

Thanks for participating this year!

The submission period for our annual writing contest was Sunday, Dec. 15, through Saturday, Feb. 15. This contest was open to teens and adults in Loudoun County and the nearby regions listed below in our FAQ.

Our awards ceremonies were held Saturday, May 17, at Trailside Middle School. Congratulations to all of the finalists!

 

2025 WINNERS

Adult

First place
My Soul to Take by Polly Nell Jones

Second place
Grape by Val Muller

Third place
Rumpelstiltskin by Grace Johnson

Fourth place
Just Another Day by Donel Gillespie

Fifth place
Exposure by Carleigh Cale

Honorable Mentions
Color of Hope by Jennifer Christiansen
Bob Seger Dinner Party by Anne Weshinskey
Poker Night by Carolyn Cullen
Hello, Friends by Oliya Zamaray
Adventure in the Bazaar by Kaylan Baban
The Last Mission of Sergeant Kaplain by Ethan Dahlb

High School

First place
Entitlement, Inc. by Clara Bloom

Second place
The Lighthouse Keepers by Anshu Emani

Third place
The Stradivarius Society by Gwenyth Mayo

Fourth place
It Was a Dare by Emily Tarazi

Fifth place
The Call of Discovery by Maggie Libby

Honorable Mentions
The Rain Will Fall by Lucy Panning
A Purloined Princess by Elisabeth Biggs
The Modern Remans by Meg Bales
The Sojourner by Hannah Stine
Tracks of Change by Sreelasya Polavarapu

Middle School

First place
Bee-yond the Meadow by Navya Srivastava

Second place
Edge of the Universe by Ahana Shastri

Third place
Fingers Crossed by Kaleb Ricce

Fourth place
Our Fearless Explorer by Alice Holzrichter

Fifth place
Two Years by Echo Zheng

Honorable Mentions
The Song of Souls by Alexandra Kleder
The Tale of Two Kings by Eric Nordyke
The Haunted by Mason Duan
The Hunter by Nathan Kim
Whispers of the Hallow by Arisha Taparia

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Please follow all directions carefully. Questions can be emailed to: writingcontest@library.loudoun.gov.

Submission Requirements

Submissions are accepted online Sunday, Dec. 15 through Saturday, Feb. 15.

Stories must be the original, unpublished work of the author.

The use of any artificial intelligence (AI) tools, software or applications to create, enhance or modify submissions is strictly prohibited.

  • Accepted works include: Fiction, including stories-in-verse
  • Unaccepted works include: Poetry, nonfiction, fanfiction

Participants in this program grant LCPL the right to publish their names and any portion of their submitted work in print and electronic publications in connection to the LCPL Short Story Contest.

Please note that entries not in compliance with the above will be disqualified.

Formatting

Please format your document accordingly:

  • Spacing: Double
  • Margins: 1-inch
  • Font: Arial, 12 point
  • Length: 3,000 words or less
  • File type: Microsoft Word-readable document or PDF

Document name: Your category (MIDDLE, HIGH or ADULT) followed by the story title

  • Example: HIGH The End of the Road.doc
  • DO NOT include your name in the file name.

Judging

Middle school, high school and adult participants will be judged as three separate categories.

Teen Services librarians will read submissions to the middle and high school categories and select the top five stories in each.

Adult Services librarians will read the adult submissions and select their top five stories.

All finalist stories will be judged by Nathan Leslie, English professor and writer/editor for several magazines and books.

Awards Ceremonies

Awards ceremonies with guest author Monica Saigal will be held at Trailside Middle School (20325 Claiborne Parkway, Ashburn).

May 17, 2025
Adult ceremony: 3 p.m.
Middle and high school ceremony: 4:30 p.m.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three finalists in the middle school, high school and adult categories:

  • First place: $200
  • Second place: $100
  • Third place: $50
 

Frequently asked questions

What should I write about? Is there a theme?

We don't have a theme! This is your chance to get creative. Get your juices flowing with one of our writing programs.

In the past, we've received stories that were inspired by real life, fantasy, mystery, adventure and even horror. We only require that the story be original (no fanfiction, nonfiction or poetry).

Do I have to be a Loudoun County resident or hold an LCPL library card to participate?

You do not need to have an LCPL card to enter. You must live in Loudoun or in one of the following jurisdictions:

  • Cities of Falls Church, Alexandria, Winchester or the District of Columbia
  • Virginia: Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Prince William, Clarke and Frederick Counties
  • West Virginia: Jefferson County
  • Maryland: Montgomery, Washington, Prince George's, Frederick and Charles Counties

Can I submit works that have been previously published?

No, your work must be previously unpublished and not scheduled for publication anywhere before June, 1, 2025. We can accept new works and works that have never been published. This is due to copyright restrictions.

Why do you have a word limit?

We receive a lot of submissions. We want to make sure everyone gets a fair chance. We don't want external factors such as font size to influence our judgment. We also want to make sure there is enough time for us to read all submissions.

Can I submit a story with multiple authors?

Yes, you may co-author your short story as long as all authors qualify to enter the competition. Include a final page for each individual author's information. If a story with multiple authors wins, prize money will be split evenly among the authors.