Bucks County Short Fiction Contest
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HS Short Fiction Contest
Short Fiction Contest 2022
FALL 2022 CONTEST
Submissions for the Fall 2022 contest is now closed. Submissions for the 2023 contest are to be announced.
PRIZES
The top three winners will receive gift cards worth of $200, $100, and $50, respectively, and will be honored at a reception.
ELIGIBILITY
All adults who are residents of Bucks County, PA, are eligible. Full- and part-time employees of Bucks County Community College are not eligible. BCCC students who have work-study hours are eligible.
ENTRY RULES
- Each entrant may submit one original short story. Stories must be previously unpublished, including in online blogs or publications.
- Please place the title of the story, (or an abbreviated version of the title), in the upper right-hand corner of each page of the story. Do not place your name or address on any pages of the manuscript.
- Stories should be typed, with one-inch margins, double-spaced, in Times New Roman font size 12. Stories may be up to 18 double-spaced pages.
- Please fill out the Entry Form completely.
- Manuscripts must be submitted online. No paper entries will be accepted.
NOTIFICATION OF WINNERS
Winner will be notified by the director of the Bucks Short Fiction Contest within two weeks after the deadline. All contestants will be notified shortly thereafter, using the email address provided. Please check your email!
AWARDS
- First place: $200 Honorarium
- Second place: $100 Honorarium
- Third place: $50 Honorarium
- Public reading at Bucks County Community College
- An announcement in local newspapers
The Bucks County Community College Department of Language and Literature funds and supports this contest. The contest director is Bucks County Community College Professor Elizabeth Luciano.
MORE INFORMATION
Professor Elizabeth Luciano at elizabeth.luciano@bucks.edu.
2022 Winners
"Hotel Oklahoma"
Bob McCrillis
First place winner, Bob McCrillis of Doylestown.
Of “Hotel Oklahoma,” Montimore wrote, “A riveting story full of everyday people found in the center of a tense situation. The sharp dialogue, well-drawn descriptions, and high stakes offer both suspense and heart. Then there’s the fantastic ending, which packs a delightful, surprising punch.” McCrillis has used his retirement to focus on writing. He has published a novel and a short-story collection on Amazon, and has other projects in the works.
"Strawberry Moon"
Megan Monforte
Second place winner, Megan Monforte of Doylestown.
The judge lauded "Strawberry Moon" by remarking that the story is "…a beautiful meditation on grief, marriage, family, and mental illness. The vivid details and realistic dialogue make this story resonate with wistfulness and melancholy. This is something that could be expanded into a longer story or a novel." The story is part of a novel that Monforte is working on. She also took second place in last year's contest. She often writes about women's cultural roles as caretakes, and how women's marriage choices affect their contentment.
"Come Clean"
Jennifer Fritch
Third place winner, Jennifer Fritch of New Hope.
Montimore cited "Come Clean" by calling it "…an unexpected narrative with a fresh perspective—literally! Writing a short story about the secret lives of grocery store products, creating characters out of inanimate objects and imbuing them with emotional depth, takes imagination and skill." Fritch, a dedicated poet and writer of many years, says she was part of the pandemic's "Great Resignation," and recently left an executive post in corporate life, in order to focus on her writing. She has taken advanced fiction classes, and is considering pursuing a master's degree in creative writing.