Louisville Public Library, CO
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Attention teens in grades 6-12!
This summer at the Louisville Public Library, try your hand at writing a Six-Word Story that will allow you to showcase your storytelling creativity.
Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway placed a bet that he could write a story in just six words. If the legend is true, he won with “For Sale: Baby Shoes, Never Worn.” Now it is your turn to give it a shot!
Contest Guidelines
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Participants must be in grades 6-12 during the 2026-2027 school year.
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You may only submit one entry. Make it count!
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Submissions must be original. Plagiarized entries, entries that use AI, or previously written work will be disqualified.
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Stories should be written during the time of the contest (May 22-July 26).
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No explicit content, please! Stories should be G, PG or PG-13.
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Stories must be received by midnight on Sunday, July 26.
Prizes
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We will have two competitions: one for middle school students (grades 6-8), and one for high school students (grades 9-12).
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Six Word Story Contest - Winners will receive Sweet Cow gift cards: 1st place = $15, 2nd place = $10, 3rd place = $5
Winners will be contacted by the end of the day on Saturday, August 8 at the latest.
Evaluation
Stories will be evaluated using the following criteria:
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Impact and Emotion: Does the story evoke a strong, immediate reaction (such as humor, sadness, or shock)?
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Narrative Arc: Is there a clear beginning, middle, and end, or a sense of a before and after?
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Creativity and Originality: Does the story feel fresh and avoid cliches?
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Spelling and Grammar: Are there spelling or punctuation errors?