The Missouri Literary Festival Award for Short Fiction, featuring $600 in cash prizes, will accept its last entries at 9 p.m. Friday, July 31.

Open to writers of all ages from anywhere in the United States, this short fiction contest will award prizes of $300, $200, and $100 for first, second and third place, respectively.

Stories should be no more than 3,000 words in length and each entry must be submitted according to the contest rules below. Outstanding entries will be featured in a public reading at Park Central Branch Library during the Literary Festival, which will be held Oct. 2, 3 and 4 in downtown Springfield, MO.

Guidelines
1. Each story must be no longer than 3,000 words.

2. Each story must be the unpublished (and not under consideration of being published), original work of the entrant.

3. All entries must be accompanied by an official entry form, which contains the name, address, e-mail address, and phone number of the author, as well as the title of the story. Click here for a copy of the entry form. Each entry must be typed, double-spaced on one side of 8+1/2 x 11 paper and no longer than 3,000 words. Please submit the story using Microsoft Word or as an RTF Text file.

4. Names and copyright markings must be omitted from the manuscript, which will go to judges anonymously. Include the title and page number at the head or foot of each page.

5. Only one entry per person. A $15 fee is required when the story is submitted. Personal checks or postal money orders preferred.

6. Do not send originals – no entries will be returned.

7. Entries must be received no later than 9 p.m., Friday, July 31. Mail a print copy of your story, with your entry fee, Attn. William Brandon Bowman, Missouri Literary Festival, 411 North Sherman Parkway, Springfield, MO 65802. You should also email a copy of your manuscript to FictionPrize@gmail.com.

8. Copyrights of winning manuscripts remain in the name of the authors, but the Missouri Literary Festival reserves the right to publish the winning entries and any honorable mentions and to reproduce them electronically on our website.

9. Prizes – Winner $300, Second Place $200, Third Place $100