A competition that attracted nearly 600 Michigan writers in its inaugural year last year is underway.

The second annual Write Michigan Short Story Contest kicked off September 3.  This year, organizers have added a third age category to the contest, for writers 11 years and under. The two other age groups are 12-17 and 18 and up.

Our news partner, WZZM TV13, reports stories must be 3,000 words or less. You do have some time, as the entry deadline is November 20, 2013. The entry fee is $10 for adults; children 17 and under are free. The contest is open to Michigan residents only and all entries must be submitted online. A public vote will decide the winner of the Readers’ Choice award; a panel of judges will pick the Judges’ Choice award recipient. A public and panel vote will whittle down the contest to the top ten semi-finalists. The winner in each age category will take home a $250 cash prize.

The winners will be honored during an awards ceremony at the Kentwood branch of the Kent District Library Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 2 p.m. Author Kristina Riggle, a Kentwood Native, will give the keynote address. Riggle will also write the forward to the 2014 Write Michigan Anthology of winning stories, which will be published by Schuler Books & Music and sold by Chapbook Press for $14.95

For more information, visit www.writemichigan.org.

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