Submission Guidelines
Rules:
- Submission dates: December 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026.
- Teens in grades 6-12 are eligible for this contest (Participants can be no older than 18).
- Works of poetry or short stories will be accepted for consideration (Non-fiction stories will not be accepted).
- Submissions in the short story category must be a minimum of 250 words.
- All works cannot exceed 2,000 words.
- Only 1 entry per person in the provided category of their choice is allowed.
- School assignments will not be accepted.
- All work must be original and unpublished.
- Participants must be a resident of Clark County, Nevada.
- All entries must be cut and pasted into the Submission Field – GoogleDoc links will not be accepted.
- Entries will be assessed by library staff prior to being submitted to the judges for scoring. Submissions that are deemed inappropriate, culturally inaccurate, or possess negative stereotypical characterization will be disqualified.
We are planning to announce the winners at a private in-person reception in April featuring a special guest speaker.
If you have any questions, please contact Erin Owens.
READ LAST YEAR'S WINNING ENTRIES IN UNLOCKED VOICES, OUR ANNUAL DIGITAL MAGAZINE.
