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”

  1. If I enter a story with a friend, and my own personal story can they both place since one is just by me, and one is with someone?
    Also, the one just by me is in a younger age group, and the other is in an older age group.
    I hope that makes sense! Thanks!

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    1. No. You can place only one time regardless of whether you wrote the story yourself or with a friend. Both cannot place even if they are in different age categories

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  2. If I place, do you email me back and ask for a bio? I was just wondering since all the other contest books have author bios.

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    1. She does email you, tell you that you’ve won, and ask for a bio. I won 3rd place last time in the oldest category, and that’s what she did for me.
      Does that answer your question, Elly?
      ~Anna Elizabeth.

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  6. Since an illustrated story has no impact on the judges, can I illustrate my sister’s story and still put the story in her name?

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    1. I will strip all of the illustrations from the story before sending it to the judges so it seems a waste of time to include them. HOWEVER, if she places, then I will happily include your illustrations for your sister’s story, so long as you let me know that you have illustrations. But it does no good to send them at this point and it gives me more to have to do to get the story ready for the judges. Long story short: the simpler the formatting, the happier I am. 🙂

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