“Tell me a story” answers a deep longing in each of us to experience life through another’s eyes and to be reminded of, and inspired by, all the ways in which we are connected. What’s your story? How do you want to tell it? Particularly in times of unrest, when the world seems irrevocably fractured, storytellers who offer new perspectives invite all of us to see the world anew.
Our Writers & Mentors Videos can help you on your way to creating your own piece for the competition—or simply benefit your writing practice. Also, don’t miss recent judges Rick Bass’s Letter to a Young Writer and Naomi Shihab Nye’s Best Advice.
Have an idea but wonder how to shape it into a new poem, story, or essay? Get inspired by some of the amazing work from our Library, hand-picked for you. We’ve created two curated lists for you to wander: our Theme-Based Reading Guide was tailored especially for last year’s contest but remains an excellent resource, and our Recommended Reading List gathers some of our favorite reading from the Library.
Be bold. Be creative. Be yourself. Tell Me a Story! We’re all ears. But before you get started, please read the following tips:
1. Start with what’s in your heart. Speak from your authentic voice, pull us into the writing, and seat us beside you. Write something that only you can write, not something you think someone else wants you to write. If you’re stuck, read some of your favorite writers, and craft a piece in their image.
2. Revise, revise, revise! We believe that great writing comes through vigorous revision, so we encourage you to edit your work. Great writing is rewriting. Genius lies in revision. Comb through your writing and interrogate every word, asking if it’s necessary—either narratively or musically—and if it’s in the right spot.
3. Use all the resources at your disposal. Watch our Writers & Mentors Videos and read our guidelines about what makes a winning work. We encourage you to ask your teacher for feedback and help, and to read your writing out loud to some friends or classmates to test it out!
4. Seek inspiration. Create a free Narrative account, and then check out our Theme-Based Reading Guide, with stories, essays, and poems chosen specifically to give you a sense of the style and quality of the writing we publish.
5. Create an original piece for this assignment. This contest offers the opportunity to push yourself outside the bounds of academic writing, to flex your creativity in a new, poetic context. Shout, sing, tell us your story!
Looking for more advice? Check out our Video Tutorials, links to past winners, and a tailored Narrative Reading List.
The contest will open for submissions on January 6, 2025. Before you submit with the help of your teacher, review this checklist to make sure your work is ready for Narrative’s consideration:
• Your story or essay is no more than 600 words long, typed in 12-point font, and double-spaced, and your poem is 10 to no more than 50 lines long, typed in 12-point font, and single-spaced.
• Your teacher has your final draft in a Word document.
• Your Narrative account has been created using your school email address prior to submitting your final draft to your teachers.
