Short Story Contest Closes Aug. 31

The greatest opportunity for publication you will ever have. 

Have you ever wondered why some contests are continued? It is because they haven't received enough entries. Such is the case with our short story contest which means one of two things: we don't extend and those who have entered have a much better chance of winning, or we do extend until we receive sufficient entries and the odds of winning go down. Contests are a lot of work and I would rather not extend, so I am being up front with you and calling for more entries.

Yes, we do charge a $5 fee, but surely you can spare the price of a Starbuck's coffee to help a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity.

Our contest is themed which makes it a lot of fun. Your story must contain this line: I am completely and utterly lost. You can apply it to emotional problems, being physically lost, mentally confused, or whatever you like. Have fun with it. There are so many ways to feel lost.

Publication: we will publish the first, second and third place winners, two honorable mentions, and ten additional Judge's Pick stories in our fifth annual anthology, along with best-selling guest authors and stories written by Creative Writing Institute's staff. Enjoy the competition. Join the fun!
 
Judge's Pick: you may be asking what a "Judge's Pick" story is. That is a story that impressed a judge so much that he/she nominated it for publication, even though it was not a winning entry. A very high commendation for the author!
 
First place:
* $200 and Gold eMedal OR a free, privately tutored writing course valued at $260
 
Second place:
* $100 and Silver eMedal OR $200 applied toward a privately tutored writing course
 
Third place:
* $50 and Bronze eMedal OR $125 applied toward a privately tutored writing course
 
Fourth and Fifth place:
* Honorable Mention eMedal
 
In addition, we will publish ten Judge's Pick stories.
 
For the First Time -- the Lucky Draw!
 
We would like to express our gratitude to Microsoft and TechSoup for donating a Norton AntiVirus Package for five computers, valid for one year. *The Norton Package will only open in the USA, but that's fine. You have 15 other opportunities to win!
 
eMedals: You will love the classy eMedals. Make them any size you want. Post them on your site and on social media!
 
This is our book cover which will be titled LOST.
 
The theme sentence is below the picture. Be sure to use it in your story.
 

"I am completely and utterly lost."

 
•   Open genre
•   One prize per person
•   Entry fee: $5 per submission
•   Submit each story individually
•   Word limit is 1,500 to 2,000 words.
•   Story may not have been published before.
•   No swearing, profanity, explicit sexual scenes, graphic violence, etc.
•   Your story must include this theme sentence: "I am completely and utterly lost."
•   Winners agree to minor editing rights and will grant first, non-exclusive, electronic rights.
•   All Rights return to the author upon publication.
•   Accepting submissions until August 31, 2017, midnight, USA Eastern Standard Time.
•   Apply the theme sentence to an emotional state, a physical location, fighting illness, or any other application that comes to mind.
•   Copy and paste your document into https://CreativeWritingInstitute.submittable.com/submit.
     Do NOT send your submission as an email attachment. We will not open it. Direct questions to head judge, Jianna Higgins, at jianna.higgins@gmail.com.