Do you have a budding novelist at home? Barnes & Noble, Inc. is pleased to announce its first National Children’s Short Story Contest for young storytellers and promising wordsmiths!

Barnes & Noble is calling on children ages 6-12 to share their original short stories for a chance to be published in a book, as well as receive a signed edition book from bestselling author Gail Carson Levine

girl writing
“We believe in the power of stories to inspire and bring joy, particularly in challenging times such as the one we’re living in now,” said Jackie De Leo, Vice President and General Merchandise Manager of Bookstore at Barnes & Noble. “Our Children’s Short Story Contest was created to be a fun and motivating outlet for young writers to share their work. We can’t wait to see the submissions, and although we can’t share all of them, we’re looking forward to publishing some budding authors in a book to be showcased by Barnes & Noble.”  

Parents or legal guardians can submit the work on the Barnes & Noble website. Fifteen select entrants will be published in a book sold exclusively at Barnes & Noble this holiday season, with proceeds going to charity.

photo: klimkin via Pixabay

The 15 winners and 15 runners-up will also get a signed book from bestselling author Gail Carson Levine, who will be writing a forward to the published book. Both groups will also have the chance to be featured on Barnes & Noble’s social channels

“We’re so thrilled to be partnering with Gail Carson Levine on this project as she is an author and writing teacher who shows kids, and all of us, the magic of stories and storytelling,” De Leo said.

Guidelines for submission are:   

  • Parents or legal guardians can submit an original written or graphic short story on behalf of children ages 6 to 12 from Apr. 27 through Aug. 31 on the Barnes & Noble website.
  • Entries should include the parent or legal guardian’s name, email, and address. Only the child’s first name and age should be provided with your entry.
  • The work must be an original written or graphic story.
  • Suggested word count is 300 to 800 words or four pages of a graphic story (black & white).

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

 

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