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WHERE SHOULD
I START?

STORY PROMPT

Tell a story about yourself or a person you know that involves an act of generosity, honesty or kindness.

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STORYTELLING OPTIONS

Tell us a NONFICTION story including the classical story elements of setting, character, and action in one of the forms below:
WRITTEN

A written, nonfiction story between 400-600 words, single or double spaced

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Examples: short story, poetry, script, feature article 

GRAPHIC STORY
AUDIO/VISUAL

A visual, narrative piece of media  between 3 to 5 minutes long. Entrants must provide a brief description of the tools and methods used in their submission statement. 

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Examples: video, cartoon, photo story
(6-12 images), podcast, oral storytelling, short film​

A minimum of 6 drawings or artwork —and no more than 12 — that tell a story following the prompt. Words can be incorporated with “bubbles" or another form of your choosing. 

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Example: series of drawings in the style of a graphic novel or comic strip 

THE GUIDELINES

ELIGIBILITY

Students in grades 7-12 residing in and/or attending school in Rappahannock County. An entry may be developed in or out of school.

CONTEST PERIOD

The contest will begin on Friday, January 24th and entries must be submitted through the online Google Form no later than midnight on Friday, March 21st.​

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In addition to your online entry, if you wish to submit a physical copy of your work, it can be delivered to the Rappahannock News office (309 Jett Street, Washington) during normal office hours with a printable submission form. 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

All stories should be true and drawn from your own personal experience. Each entry must be accompanied by a submission form.

AI / PLAGIARISM 

Entries will be disqualified if they are found to have been generated by artificial intelligence or plagiarized.

 

Each entry must be the original work of one student. An adult may not alter the creative or substantive integrity of the student’s work.  

AWARDS

Winners will receive a cash prize, their work will be published online and in print in the Rappahannock News, and an awards ceremony will be held to honor winners. 

7-8th Grade

1st Place: $200

2nd Place: $150

3rd Place: $100

Honorable Mentions: $50

9-10th Grade

1st Place: $300

2nd Place: $225

3rd Place: $150

Honorable Mentions: $70

11-12th Grade

1st Place: $450

2nd Place: $350

3rd Place: $250

Honorable Mentions: $100

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