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Monthly Prompt: See HERE!

About Our Short Story Competition:

Every month, we host a short story competition (350 words max), with each new prompt centered around a monthly theme. This competition is for elementary and middle school students. The competition will remain open for submissions until the 28th of each month (11:59 pm), with results released on the first of every month at 8:00 am PST. Prompts will provide starters for writers.

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Winners will receive the following:

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1st Place - $25 Amazon Gift Card, and writing published in our Hall of Fame!

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2nd Place -  $15 Amazon Gift Card, and writing published in our Hall of Fame!

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3rd Place - $5 Amazon Gift Card, and writing published in our

Hall of Fame!

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Runner Up  - Writing published in our Hall of Fame!

Prompts

All competitions open on the 1st and close on the 28th of every month. You can submit to our competitions as long as it is the 28th or earlier in your region.

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One day, your main character wakes up with a single memory missing - but it’s one they can’t afford to forget. Maybe it’s the name of someone important, a promise they made, or perhaps even the reason they’re in the place that they call home. As they try to uncover the truth, the gap in their memory begins to unravel, revealing even bigger mysteries about their life and their world. Write a story about how the search for this missing piece forces your character(s) to confront who they truly are. ​NOTE: February's competition will close on the 24th of the month.

 

Stuck? Consider these starters:

What is the missing memory, and why is it so crucial? How does your protagonist discover it’s missing, and what lengths do they go to in their efforts to recover it? Do others know about their forgotten memory, or are they entirely alone? Does the ending to their journey bring a clear conclusion or more uncertainty?

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All submissions before the 15th will receive FREE, personalized feedback that writers may use to revise and resubmit! Sign up HERE for one-on-one online coaching calls with award-winning writer and Future Scholar Foundation co-founder, Nathaniel Tok!

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Questions? Refer to the FAQs below, or contact us: futurescholarfoundation@gmail.com

  • Where should I submit my story?
    Please submit your story here. We look forward to reading your piece soon - all submissions before the 15th will receive FREE feedback that writers can use to revise and resubmit. Good luck!
  • Where should I re-submit my story?
    You can resubmit your story through our submission form on our website; our system will automatically group your revised story next to your original one!
  • My short story is more than 350 words. Will I be disqualified?
    No - your story will not be disqualified as long as it is no more than slightly (around 5-15 words) over the 350 word limit. Because we receive hundreds of submissions each month, and operate with an extremely small team, we are unable to allocate the time to read extremely long stories - as much as we would love to!
  • Why should I participate?
    Participating in the our competitions provides the unique opportunity to gain early creative writing practice not avaliable in school. By practicing early, students are able to gain a deep appreciation of the english language and understand its inherent power to facilitate change in the world. Additionally, such practice facilitates great improvement in grammar, style, and structure, all of which will be essential in excelling on the SAT, high school AP classes, and college application essays.
  • How much does it cost to participate in the competition?
    We believe the opportunity to showcase one's talents should be avaliable to all social groups. We want everybody to be able to learn as much as possible from their participation in our competitions. Thus, our writing competitions are, and will always be, 100% free.
  • Is the competition in-person or virtual?
    All English competitions are completely virtual to ensure ease of access for everyone. Competitions open on the first of every month and close on the 28th of the month. You can submit as long as it is the 28th somewhere in the world. Results are announced sometime the third week of the month. Submissions go here!
  • Can I submit multiple stories?
    Yes! You are more than welcome to submit multiple stories each month. It's a great way to get extra practice and increase your chances of winning!
  • Can I submit my story if I don't live in the US/Canada area?
    Yes - you can! We welcome international submissions :)
  • Who should I contact with additional questions?
    Our email is futurescholarfoundation@gmail.com. It is checked frequently - expect a response time of less than 12 hours!
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All done? Submit Below!

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