13th Annual Aldrich Foundation short story contest slated

Original short stories by Nebraska authors are being accepted for the 2015 Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation’s short story contest.

Story length should be 1,000-2,000 words (there is no minimum word requirement for the Intermediate category) and submissions should be written in the wholesome spirit displayed by Bess Streeter Aldrich in her works. No essays, please. A list of books by the author which entrants can read to become familiar with her work is available on the Foundation’s website, http://www.BessStreeterAldrich.org.

Prizes will be awarded at the annual Spring Banquet of the Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation on April 18, 2015. Cash prize amounts are: Adult – first prize, $100, second prize, $50, third prize, $25; high school (grades 9-12) and middle school (grades 6-8) – first prize, $50, second prize, $25, third prize, $15; and intermediate school (grades 3-5) – first prize, $25, second prize, $15, third prize, $10.

Writers should send a cover sheet with their name, address, e-mail address, phone number, title of story and two copies of the story – one with their name and one without. Include a line telling how you learned about the contest.

For students, add age, grade, school and teacher’s name to the cover sheet. Enclose a S.A.S.E. for return of contest results. Stories will not be returned. Families of Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation Board Members are not eligible.

The deadline for submissions is the author’s birthday, Feb. 17, 2015 (postmark date). Send submissions to: Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation, P.O. Box 167, Elmwood, NE 68349.

A complete list of rules can be found at http://www.BessStreeterAldrich.org.