Last year, we enjoyed an 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 this year, we're reprising the contest with the added twist that we'll once again have some scholarship money available to those who'd like to be part of the page-to-stage contest but need some financial assistance to join the short story workshops. (This is not just a straight writing contest; it's a contest involving the Lighthouse short story workshops AND Stories on Stage, so it's only open to members of the current short story workshops.)
The winning story will receive a $200 prize and be read along stories by Charles Baxter, William Faulkner, and possibly Lorrie Moore (final lineup will be announced when available).
Short story scholarship information (this is JUST for folks who apply for financial aid, and is not a requirement in any way for story writers wishing to enter the contest):
- Submit one original short story, published or not, that shows your writing at its highest level by Sunday, July 25, 2011. This story need not fit the theme of the Stories on Stage Contest, nor will it be considered for the SOS contest unless you submit it for the later contest deadline (after you use the workshop in August to polish/revise your contest entry—that’s the idea). Please submit the story as an attachment to an e-mail to [email protected].
- Include a cover letter stating whether you (a) are seeking a full-paid tuition remission, based on financial need, or (b) seeking a half-off tuition waiver worth $145, in which case you’d arrange for payment of the other $140. In either case, please give us a brief sense of your financial need in the cover letter.
- Scholarship winners must enroll in the August session of the Short Story Workshops—the funds cannot be transferred to future sessions. (This is a stipulation of our grant.)
- Staff and faculty of Lighthouse Writers Workshop are not eligible to enter the scholarship or the Stories on Stage contest. Lighthouse will not take part in judging the contest.
Here are the rules/regs for the contest:
- Applicants must be enrolled in the August session of the Intro, Intermediate, or Advanced Short Story or the Boulder or Online Fiction workshops. The point is that writers will have the opportunity to workshop and refine, through our programs, their submissions.
- Stories must be no more than 5,000 words & should be double-spaced, 12-pt. font. (We recommend shorter if possible--shorter submissions sometimes have a better shot at fitting into the program.)
- Stories must relate, in some way, to the topic: “Eccentrics.”
- Stories must be submitted by Saturday, September 10, to [email protected], who will forward them to Stories on Stage. Electronic submission by Word doc (or docx) is preferred.
- Winning selection will be made by the artistic director at Stories on Stage, as with last year.
- Revisions and/or edits may be required by Stories on Stage, with or without author permission.
Deadline & Important Dates
- Deadline for submissions for the scholarships to short story workshops: Sunday, July 25, 2011.
- Deadline for submissions for the contest ($200 prize plus performance): Saturday, September 10.
- The performance with Stories on Stage will take place on Saturday, September 24, 1:30 PM & 7:30 PM shows.
Questions
Contact Andrea Dupree, Program Director, at [email protected]
