Belleville/VBT/Sumpter Holiday Writing Contest

presented by

We are excited to announce a writing contest for school-aged children in our community! This initiative aims to encourage creativity, strengthen community bonds, and celebrate the spirit of the holidays.

*SUBMIT YOUR STORY BELOW*

The Contest:  Write a maximum 250 word children’s holiday story about a Holiday Countdown.

• The countdown can cause emotion - anticipation, excitement, confusion, worry, dread or anything else.
• Anything and everything can be counted down.
• Months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds.
• People, animals, gifts, snowmen, fruitcakes, Christmas trees, candles, stars.
• Things being hidden, wrapped, baked, purchased, handmade, eaten.
• Think 5 little monkeys jumping on the bed, or 10 in the bed, or 3 wisemen, or 8 candles, or 8 reindeer or anything else with numbers for countdown inspiration.
• Anything goes - the more imaginative the better!

Your story may be poetry or prose, silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, New Year’s or whatever you celebrate during the Holiday Season, but it is not to exceed 250 words. (It can be as short as you like, ( the judges will be grateful, you are welcome and encouraged to write shorter, but no more than 250!  Title not included in word count.)  The field is wide open!  Have fun!  The more creative the better! 

Judging Criteria:

• Kid-appeal! - These stories are intended for a young audience ( ages 12 and under) so we're looking for stories that children will enjoy and relate to.
• Holiday Countdown! - the rules state a Holiday Countdown story, so your story must be centered around a countdown of some kind and it must be clear that the story in some way relates to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, New Year’s , or whatever way seasonal winter holiday you choose.  Your countdown must be central to the story - not just a offhand mention/reference in a story about something else.
• Quality of story - entries must tell a story, including a main character of some kind and a true story arc even if it’s tiny.  Entries must not be merely descriptions or mood pieces.
• Quality of Writing - Check your spelling, grammar, punctuation etc.
• Originality and Creativity - Because that is often what sets one story above another.  And in a contest of countdowns, you will want yours to stand out from the crowd!

Prizes: To incentivize participation, we will offer gift cards for the top three entries:

1st Place: $100

2nd Place: $75

3rd Place: $50

Winners will be announced during the annual Winter Fest parade, providing a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their achievements in front of the community.

PLEASE SEND ANY QUESTIONS TO INFO@BACCEVENTS.ORG*