Short Story Contest

Enter Wilsonville Public Library’s 7th annual Short Story Contest. Writers of all ages are invited to submit short stories to be judged by a panel of WPL’s expert librarians for creativity, style, and voice.

Submissions open from August 1-31, 2026. Official rules and Entry Form are available at the bottom of this page.

Three winners from each age group will receive prizes and have their stories published on the Library’s website. The age groups are:

• Toddlers & Preschoolers
• Students in Kindergarten-2nd grade
• Students in Grades 3-5
• Students in Grades 6-8
• Students in Grades 9-12
• Adults (ages 18+)

Writers must be abide by the following rules to qualify for entry:

• Story must be 1500 words or fewer, and in English.
• Maximum of two stories may be submitted per writer.
• All stories must be original and previously unpublished.
• Story content should be appropriate for a wide audience.
• Story must be typed (or legibly handwritten if author is under age 10) and include story title and page numbers on each page of the story. Do not include your name on any of the story pages. In order for the entries to remain anonymous, the writer’s name should appear only on the Entry Form attached to the story (Entry Form available for download at bottom of this page).
• Writers must be a LINCC library card holder. (For children and teens, a parent or guardian must be a LINCC library card holder).
• Writers may have another person transcribe their story (for example: pre-reading children telling their story to an adult who writes it down and submits it).
• Writers can submit in print by mail, or electronically, either as a PDF or Word file attachment sent via email.
• Entries must include the Official Entry Form. Keep a copy of your story as entries will not be returned.
• Entries that do not meet the above guidelines will be disqualified from judging.

Winners announced: Friday, September 25, 2026.

Deliver stories via email to:
erickson@wilsonvillelibrary.org (include “Short Story Contest” in the subject line)

or by mail:
Andrea Erickson, Wilsonville Public Library
8200 SW Wilsonville Road, Wilsonville, OR 97070
 

Winning stories from 2025 are available at the bottom of this page.

Toddler-Preschool:

1. "A Baby Boy and a Big Boy" by Owen Kibler
2. "T-Rex Day" by Clyde Mountz
3. "Grandma Eva Goes Camping" by Andal Ashrith Harith

Kindergarten-2nd Grade:

1. "The Gooberville Detectives" by Alex May
2. "Pirate Ship-Space Ship" by Makenna Kibler
3. "The Princess and the Bear" by Parker Parry

Grades 3-5:

1. "The Booth At The Farmers Market" by Remiel Traughber
2. "The Tale of Night and Day" by Claire Jordan
3. "Boudicca's Revolt" by Quinn Nickerson

Grades 6-8:

1. "The New Car" by Lydia Merrick
2. "The Mystery of Cats" by Sneha Kumar
3. "Bob in the Tent" by Titus Metson

Grades 9-12:

1. "'Good' in Goodbye" by Norah Gatewood
2. "An Unforgettable Night" by Shubhi Kumar
3. "Hades Gets a Tan" by James Metson

Adult:

1. "Morning Routine" by Nicholas Broce
2. "Catch Up" by Becky Tuttle
3. "Cloud Sheep'oo Land" by Sonja Spisak

This contest is sponsored by the Friends of the Wilsonville Library.