$450 in monthly prize money!
New multimedia/writing contest winners are published every month.
JUNE CONTEST
Deadline:
Stories must be submitted by 11:59 PM (MST) on May 31st.
Topic:
July 4, 2026, is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence!
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”
The year 1776 was filled with anxiety, division, hope, and despair. So is 2026! What did the Declaration of Independence mean to people at the time? What about today? Tell me an inspiring story! Develop one or more story angles, eg.: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Problem/solution. Obstacles overcome. Lessons for us.
Eligibility:
Cochise County residents of all ages. Each nonfiction, nonpartisan entry should be submitted by the deadline in English, previously unpublished and written by you (not AI) with no copyright violations (including media).
Length:
What needs to be said and not another word more; fewest words possible without losing meaning. Probably no more than 1000-2000 words.
Multimedia:
May include one or more pictures, illustrations, audio, or video. Stories that are mostly multimedia must at least have a title and descriptive paragraph.
Judgment Criteria:
1. Captivating, 2. Clarity, 3. Conciseness, 4. Factuality (if relevant, well-researched source citations are recommended), and 5. Quality of multimedia (historic media quality is understood). Bonus points for local interest!
Prizes:
Finalists are invited to the awards celebration to receive public recognition and prizes: Gold (1st place) $250, Silver (2nd place) $150, Copper (3rd place) $50, strong contestants 1-click shareable certificate.
* Additional prizes may be offered by local sponsors for place winners and strong contestants.
Winners:
Revealed the 2nd or 3rd Saturday of each month at the awards celebration and then winners will be published online before the end of the month. Strong contestants will also be published over time.
No entry fees!
In order to submit your story, you’ll need to register for free. If you’re even considering entering the contest, register now so you can get additional guidance, writing tips, and resources, plus get access to the private Storyteller Forum where you can ask questions or get critiques from other storytellers before submitting, and more.