It’s been awhile since I hosted a story-writing contest. Since I have backed away from the intense, Annual Writing Contest, you all know I’m focusing on quarterly opportunities. However, life snuck up on me, so instead of a winter contest, this one is more of a winter/spring contest. (Sorry about that.)
However, with that comes some good news too. First of all, you will have a full month to write your story. I know, I know, you want to know about the story prompts. A story starter? A picture prompt? Well, as you know, the contest stories usually focus on some kind of fun photo/writing prompt that revolves around the CIRCLE C RANCH or GOLDTOWN.
For this writing contest, however, you may expand and write a story about whatever is dear to your hearts. Outer space, historical, a mystery, modern themes, animals, fantasy . . . the sky is the limit and not bound by the Circle C “universe.” So, have fun and show the judges what you love to write. Enjoy it while you can. The next contest will go back to some kind of writing prompt.
Stories must stay under 2,500 words, and in this contest, writers may enter one story only (unlike other contests I’ve hosted). I’m very excited to see what comes in with this new, expanded writing universe.
Head over the Current Contest page to watch a video that explains the contest and covers all of the rules. You can also download the PDF screen shots of the video to keep them handy. Click the link below to get started on your writing adventure!
WINTER/SPRING STORY-WRITING CONTEST
Questions? Ask in the comments here or on the Current Contest page.
Andi Carter's Blog 
Hi Mrs. M! Thank you so much for doing this! Does the contest story have to have a finished and complete ending or can it be a cliffhanger to-be-continued type of story?
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It must be a complete story in itself.
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Hello Mrs. M! Is there an age limit on this writing competition?
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Watch the video. 😉
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I think I’m going to stick to Circle C. I love writing but when it comes to making my own characters I fall a bit short😐 I love all the writing contests you put on!!!! I use to hate anything related to grammar, spelling, and complete sentences. You helped me to love them with the contests!!!!!! Thank you!
A.J.H.🐎
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Yay!!!!
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Wait, so it doesn’t have to be about Andi, right?
Can it still be if we want it to be?
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Watch the video. Yes, it can. …..
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Thanks! (I did watch it, but I wanted to clarify that Andi didn’t have to be in the scenes you suggested. 🙂 )
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Ha-ha! Can you see Andi in an outer-space story? LOL
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lol
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Why is the word limit so low? I have a story I’d like to send in but it’s too long. I’ll see what I can do about shortening it….
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That has been the word limit for every seasonal contest for years. Nothing has changed.
It is to honor the judges and not bog them down, and it teaches you to write tight. 🤪
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YAY! I read the rules but can it be any time like instead of the 1800s? Thanks!
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Watch the video
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I am writing a fantasy short story for school. As long as it is within the word limit can I enter that? It is not about any Circle C characters.
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What does the video tell you?
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it just says it can be any story. So, it can be any time, right? 😉
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Did you not see the examples in the video?
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oh, yeah! Sorry!🤦🏼♀️ thanks
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Mrs M, thanks for this fun writing contest!! I had a question about something …
I have a story that I’ve already started for fun, but not finished. Can I keep working on that one and enter it into the contest, or do I need to start from scratch?
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You can submit whatever you want. 😉
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Thank you! 😊
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How fun!! Thanks for hosting this Mrs. M! It will be fun and challenging to write a story about ANYTHING in ANY era 🥰
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Does fan fiction from a random book or series count or is that wrong since books are copyrighted? For example if I wrote a story using characters from the Narnia series would that be ok?
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That’s actually a very good question. 😉 Since the stories are not going to published anywhere but on Andi’s blog (even the winners), I don’t see any issues with your idea. (I would have loved to write a Star Trek fan fiction story when I was your age for a possible contest).
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Thanks! I started writing one but then I began to worry about copyright stuff!!
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This looks great! I think this is going to be my favorite contest yet!!!
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Cool! Can’t wait to get started!
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When will the winners be announced?
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After I decide if it’s a readers choice voting or judges only, and it depends on when the Judges get the stories back to me. 😉
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If I co-author a story can I submit my own as well- or does that count as 2 stories?
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One story, regardless if you write it by yourself or if you co-author. If you name is on the story, it counts as your story. 🖋️
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Can I write a true story if its in my own words? like a war hero instead of making a story up, or is that cheating? Thanks!….Hopefully that made sense! 😄
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If you watched the video, you saw the screen that says, “Write whatever you want.” True, fiction, biography, whatever. 😉
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thank you so much Mrs. M!! I already have an idea and can’t wait to start!!
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Thank you Miss M! I love these!
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If we don’t win, can we send our story to Fan Fiction?
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Yes, if it is a Circle C story
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Yay!!! So excited!! Now I have to find an idea that’ll be short enough lol 🙂
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Are you going to do a Andi writing contest this year? Going to miss reading the fan fiction for Andi when this contest is over.
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Eventually. Probably summer/fall.
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Hi Mrs. M.
If my friend and I write 2 stories together can I enter one under my name and she enter the other under her name?
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No. One story if you co-write. Why don’t you write your own story and let your friend write her own story?
I’m just saying that co-writing sometimes does not make the story very consistent in voice. It’s an advantage to write your own stories.
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Mrs. M, am I allowed to put pictures in my story?
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Sure….
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hei does it matter if my story is 20 words over the limit?
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That’s okay.
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so… my story is 38 words over the limit. Is that ok?
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Yes
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Thanks!
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Is that ok for other people’s stories, or just that one?
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To what are you referring? There are nearly 1,200 comments so I don’t know which other comment you are referring to. I answer comments on my dashboard, not on the post.
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Is it ok for other stories to be 30 something words over the word limit?
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Yes.
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I,m almost done with my story. My lil’ Brothers love the story. Can’t wait to see what comes in! I always, when new fan-fiction comes in, go to my room and just read!!!!!
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is there going to be a seasonal contest fan fiction for this one?
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I’m not sure what you are asking. You are certainly free to write a Circle C fan fiction. I have received an entry so far that is a Circle C fan fiction. This contest includes both options. There will not be a separate seasonal contest for only Circle C fan fiction, if that is what you are asking.
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When I go to the fan fiction, there is a category called Seasonal Entries. Like for the seasonal contests, if someone doesn’t win that contest, they can send their story to that fan fiction category. Can you do that for this seasonal contest? Thanks!
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Probably not. Did you see this paragraph on the Writing Contest page?
————
Because this is an unusual contest (open to any story theme, and not limited to Circle C fan fiction), the winners’ stories (one from each age category) will be “published” on the blog. However, unlike other contests, where anyone who wants can have their Circle C story entry put up on line, I will not be posting entries (since they are not fan fiction).
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Oh sorry!
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