The George Washington Harris Short Story Contest is currently closed for submissions. Thank you for your interest. Please follow Appalachia Bare for more contest information in the future. We accept submissions year-round.
Appalachian artists and writers have a unique perspective on life. Much of our inspiration derives from family and oral history, and from all those inimitable truths we experience – goodness and graciousness, badness and lasciviousness, minimalism and sustainability, etc. Our journeys can be as bright as the sun peeking through canopies or as haunting and twisted as our hollers. And we proclaim them (at least in some way) with a story, a poem, a painting, a photograph, a tune.
Our goal is to elevate persons whose talents exceed expectations and provide a venue for creative Appalachians, born or transplanted. From time to time, we will sponsor contests in particular genres. That being said:
Appalachia Bare is excited to announce the George Washington Harris Short Story Contest!
Read the following rules and information and submit your best work. We look forward to your stories.
(For questions, email us at info@appalachiabare.com.)
Contest Rules:
- Create a short story from one of the following superstitions or old wives’ tales found in Appalachia Bare’s “Never Say ‘Pig’ on a Boat”:
a. If a rooster crows at a burial, the one who’s buried is a sinner.
b. Salt placed in four corners and all window sills of a house will keep out evil.
c. Never tell a dream before breakfast or it will come true.
d. If wooly worms are plentiful, it’ll be a bad winter.
e. Garden spiders write messages on their webs.
f. The devil favors left-handed people.
g. If a baby is born with a “veil,” he or she will have the gift of prophecy.
h. If a grasshopper spits on you, it’s good luck.
i. Smoke follows beauty.
j. Lavender only grows for strong women.
- Only one short story per person, not to exceed 2,000 words (title not included). Entries over 2,000 words will not be considered.
- Email only – In the subject line, write “Contest – Last Name, First Name.” Submit Word or PDF document via email to: submissions@appalachiabare.com.
- Please also include a first page cover letter with your name, address, phone number, email, as well as a brief bio. The cover letter is not included in word count.
- Deadline for Submissions is November 10, 2020.
**Appalachia Bare staff are not eligible for our contests.
Awards:
Winners will be announced by December 15, 2020.
**Please be sure to include a cover letter with your submission which contains name, address, phone number, email, and a short bio. If we don’t have your address, we can’t send your award. And that would make us sad.
- First Prize
$100.00 – This recipient will receive, via the United States Postal Service, a $100.00 pre-paid VISA card and a certificate award. The first-place story will be featured as such in Appalachia Bare.
- Second Prize
$50.00 – This recipient will receive, via the United States Postal Service, a $50.00 pre-paid VISA card and a certificate award. The second-place story will be featured as such in Appalachia Bare.
- Third Prize
$25.00 – This recipient will receive, via the United States Postal Service, a $25.00 pre-paid VISA card and a certificate award. The third-place story will be featured as such in Appalachia Bare.
- One Honorable Mention
Certificate: This recipient will receive, via the United States Postal Service, a certificate award. The Honorable Mention story will be featured as such in Appalachia Bare.
**Disclaimer:
By submitting, the writer admits this writing is his or her or their personal and original work. Appalachia Bare claims first publishing rights that return to the writer after being published. Appalachia Bare is not responsible for any lost submissions.
Appalachia Bare is an open-minded site; however, we reserve the right not to accept hate speech, racism, or gratuitous sexual violence.
**Featured Image Source: Unsplashed, Annie Spratt