2023 Circle C Writing Contest

Submissions accepted January 1 – April 15, 2023.

This is the official 2023 Circle C story-writing contest page. A nutshell of the rules is given below. Please download the PDF file and print it out, or click over to the page that spells out the official rules. Please do not submit your story until you have read every rule and understand how to send your stories.

Have questions? Please read the FAQs (frequently asked questions) first. If the answer to your question is not there, ask your question in a comment.

Read the Rules >>
Download the Rules >>

Quick Nutshell

  • 3 age categories and word counts:
    • Ages 6-9 (500-1,200)
    • Ages 10-13 (1,500-2,500)
    • Ages 14-17 (2,000-3,500)
  • Prizes awarded to first, second, and third place. Honorable mention receives the contest book.
  • You may submit up to 2 stories.
  • Deadline April 15, 2023.

Entries judged by Susan Marlow, Donna Patton, Colleen Reece, Annette Romano, Ellen Senechal, and Emily Sinclair.

Judges Bios >>
See the Prizes >>

First Place

  • $20 gift coupon to the Circle C Store
  • Any Circle C or Goldtown journal
  • Digital audio book
  • Circle C fun pack (choice of CCB or CCA stickers)
  • Circle C tote bag
  • Contest book

Second Place

  • Any Circle C or Goldtown journal
  • Digital audio book
  • Circle C fun pack (choice of CCA or CCB stickers)
  • Circle C tote bag
  • Contest book

Third Place

  • Circle C fun pack (choice of CCB or CCA stickers)
  • Contest book
  • Digital audio book

Honorable Mention

  • Contest book

Prizes shipped to U.S. and APO addresses only.

Send your Story >>

Before You Submit

  • Check your word count. WordCounter.net
  • Include your name, age, email, and story title on the story file itself, not in the body of the email.

Sending your story assumes you have parent permission.

144 thoughts on “2023 Circle C Writing Contest”

  6. Is there a prompt for the contest, or can I write about whatever I want? (ofc, staying withing the CC world).

    Reply

      1. I did! I read through the entire thing, and I even read the FAQs list, but still didn’t see anything about a prompt 😅 Altho I did just wake up, so I might have overlooked smt

      3. Hahaha ok ty! I wasn’t sure if you were going to, like wait until the contest actually started to give a prompt, and that this was just smt where we could get an idea of the contest was going to be like or smt else haha. Now I can start brainstorming tho!

    2. @Sara M
      Mrs. M said that the winners would be getting a book with the winning stories. Soo… She is probably going to have a book.😊

      Reply

      1. No, only for the 2023 Annual Writing Contest. I do not do printed books for the seasonal contests, and I think that is what she was asking when she said 2022. 🙂

    1. In the past, I have had international winners but they provided a State-side address so they could have the book, etc.
      Unless the winner agreed to pay shipping (about $25+) for physical prizes to be shipped, I can only provide Digital prizes for International winners, which would include $$ to be able to buy the winner’s copy of the book from their country’s Amazon store, which I would PayPal. If the international winner is first place, I would PayPal the $20 so they could buy the books they wanted from Amazon. 🙂

      Reply

  16. What do I do if I have absolutely no idea what to write about? I’m going to ask my family and friends, but most haven’t even read your books. My brother (the only family member who has read your Circle C books) might be planning on entering next year, so he’ll probably want to keep any ideas he might have.

    Reply

  22. Mrs. M., you should offer giftcards for the CC store. Whether in codes or actual cards, it would be nice. 😀🙂😄

    Reply

      1. You should Andi! I know I would buy one and give the number to my friend so she could use in the CC store!

  28. Mrs. Marlow,
    I know that you said in the rules and FAQs that those who have won the last contest cannot enter again, but I wanted to be absolutely clear before I start on a story I might not be able to enter!
    This is my last year to enter because of my age, but I have already won 3rd place in this category 2 years ago when you had your last annual contest. Does that mean that I cannot win again ever, since I’ve already won for my age category and this is my last year of eligibility?
    Thanks,
    ~Anna Elizabeth

    Reply

  29. I’m so excited to write my story!! <3 <3
    I loooove these contest Mrs M. Thank you so much for putting so much time and effort into them. They're are much appreciated! <3

    Reply

  30. I’m planning to enter the contest but I had a quick question about which age group I should enter.

    I will be turning fourteen within the time frame of the contest, so should I enter the 14-17 category or the 10-13? I was going to enter the 14-17 age group, but I didn’t know for sure.

    I hope the question makes sense. I’m not the best at turning my thoughts into words.

    Thanks!

    Reply

  31. in the 10–13-word count it says 1000-2500 in one place, and 1500-2500 in another. which is it?

    Reply

    1. Whatever it says in the Official Rules (that you can download). Everything else is subject to finger slipping. LOL
      A. Ages 6-9 (500 – 1,200 words) (children may narrate story to a parent or older sibling)
      B. Ages 10-13 (1,500 – 2,500)
      C. Ages 14-17 (2,000 – 3,500 words)

      Reply

  33. Good evening! Do we need to put a specific title in the subject line on email so that you know the email is for the annual contest?

    Reply

    1. You can just write annual contest. But make sure all of the information asked for in the Official Rules is on the story file itself and NOT in the email.

      Reply

    1. It’s going to be a one-time use coupon code especially created for each first-place winner. When you put products into the store’s cart and then enter the coupon code, it will take off $20 from your order (and give you free shipping). It can be used only one time and it will have an expiration date as well. So the winner will need to use all $20 at one time.

      Reply

  37. Hello Mrs M!
    If I entered a story into a SEASONAL contest a couple years back, could I revise it and enter it in the ANNUAL one?

    Reply

    1. Yes, but if it did not place the first time, I wonder if it has a good chance this time….. Honestly, I would create something new if I were you to give it a better chance.

      Reply

      1. It had placed top three in my age group, but it was a reader voting so it didn’t win. 🙂
        Okay, thank you! <3 <3

      3. Even though it didn’t actually win?
        I would re-write it and change it up a lot. Would that count?
        (sorry for so many questions! 🙂 )

      4. Well… remember that it did win in a way. It was picked by a judge before it went to the readers choice, Why don’t you just start over with a fresh idea and story? It gets very complicated if I let you be an exception.

    1. Yes, but it has to go into the category of the oldest writer (say you are 12 and your co-author is 14, it must be submitted to the older category).
      Also, it is still ONE prize which you would have to work out on your own with your co-author. I send the prize to ONE address.
      Hope that helps.

      Reply

      1. great, thank you!!!
        i was gonna enter a story with my friend (Esther) and we live right by eachother so it would be fine with the prize 🙂

    1. Awesome!
      I started on mine, at least I think I’ll use this one as my contest story!
      Whats yours about? 🙂 if you don’t mind me asking!
      Isn’t writing so much fun!?

      Reply

  40. A few criminals from Andi’s past come back to kidnap her. (When she’s an adult)
    Yes! I love writing! 🙂
    What’s yours about?

    Reply

    1. Oh! That already sounds exciting!!! 🙂
      Mine is about Andi meeting her aunt’s friend’s granddaughter, does that make sense? lol its really interesting, Andi and Annaliese(that is the girls name) both try to act like ‘proper young ladies’ but totally mess up. lol! I’m having a lot of fun writing it!
      Mine probably won’t win either, it’s super fun to write though!!!
      How often do you write? Do you write many Andi stories?

      Reply

      1. That’s sounds really funny! Classic Andi! 🙂 I just started looking on the blog in December, so I haven’t written many. I did finish one and send it in, but it’s not posted yet. I just started another one. It’s basically the entire history of Andi and Riley, from when they were little, to when they die. I’m having a lot of fun writing it!

      2. Yep! lol
        Oh cool! I can’t wait till it comes out!!
        Would you like to get in contact and write a Andi story together? No pressure or anything, I just love writing with others!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

      7. That’s super cool! Getting a book published is on my bucket list. I start tons of stories, but hardly ever finish them. 🙁

      8. You totally should!!!!
        It is so so worth it!!!
        Yep! Same, there are a lot of stories in my google docs that need finished!

      9. Yep. I’m okay at starting stories but have a hard time coming up with an ending, that doesn’t drag along. 🙂

    2. You both can send me your emails via the contact form and I’ll make sure you get each other’s. Nobody can write their email in a public comment. 😉

      Reply

    1. You can only place once. One winner for each placement. If both your stories place, the judge will pick which one to feature. Then the next closest story entry will place.
      This has happened before but you will not know if both stories place or if just one placed.

      Reply

  47. Thanks so much for the contest!!
    I’ve written and submitted one story already and am in the middle of a second right now!!!!!

    Reply

  48. If I entered a story, would I be able to put it in say a different blog even if it is on this blog?

    Reply

  49. Mrs. Marlo, am I ALLOWED to add new characters and make them the MAIN characters if I add Andi and her Family in it?

    Reply

  50. Okay, Just wondering because that is what I was doing with my story and a did not want to cheat.
    I missed it. Now I see that rule. Sorry.
    Thanks for your time.

    Reply

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