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The promise of seeing their work performed by Stories on Stage has been inspiring Lighthouse workshoppers for five years now.[/caption]
Last year, a newbie to Lighthouse, Kelley Shirk, upset the odds and won the fourth annual Stories on Stage contest and wowed the crowd. Around this time two years ago, Beth Bell was being feted by the audiences and her fellow workshoppers for her award-winning story, “Heart Dog” (which had a heart-stopping ending, performed dramatically by actress Rachel Fowler). She reflected on the process in this underground bootleg flip video taken by our own Dan Manzanares. You might remember that two years ago, we enjoyed another epic performance of the Lighthouse-member story “Naomi and the Writer,” by Laurie Sleeper, at the Denver Civic Theatre alongside readings of T.C. Boyle and E.L. Doctorow. To relive some of the glory, check out our series of blog posts on the events.
We’re pleased to announce that for the fifth year running, we’re continuing the contest.
The winning story will receive a $200 prize and be read along stories by Richard Russo, Nicole Krauss, and Patricia Marx.
Here are the rules/regs for the contest:
- Applicants must be enrolled in the August session of workshops at Lighthouse. The point is that writers will have the opportunity to workshop and refine, through our workshops, their submissions.
- Stories must be ideally 3,500 (and no more than 4,000 words) & should be double-spaced, 12-pt. font.
- Stories must relate, in some way, to the topic: “Readers and Writers.”
From Anthony Powell:
“How do we read? Why do we Write? What do these things say about each of us? Here is our attempt to wrestle with some fundamental questions about at least two of education's 'Three Rs" (we'll leave arithmetic for another time).
“So that cuts a pretty wide swath. I suppose another possibility that the blurb doesn't suggest is "adventures in the writing trade" kind of stuff. I imagine that there are some pretty funny/horrific stories out there about getting (or not getting) published, dealing with literary agents, writing for hire, etc. We don't currently have a story slated that addresses anything like that.”
- Each current workshopper can submit one piece only, and they should send them to us at [email protected] by 5PM on October 9th.
- The winning selection will be made by the artistic director of Stories on Stage, as with previous years.
- Winning selection will have their work performed on stage and receive a cash prize of $200.
- The performance is on Saturday, November 9, with shows at 1:30 PM and 7:30 PM.
- Revisions and/or edits may be required by Stories on Stage, with or without author permission.
