The San Diego Central Library announces the sixth annual Short Story Contest. The contest, a part of the Local Author Program, continues the support that the Library provides to local writing, and shines a spotlight on local authors who craft short stories. This is a popular program which accepts only 75 submissions.

Stories must not exceed 3,000 words

Submission period:

Begins Monday, March 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Closes after 75 submissions

Winners announced in early May 2023

Rules & Guidelines

• All entries are submitted online during a prescribed schedule set by the San Diego Public Library.

• The contest is open to original, published or unpublished stories.

• Stories that have won and/or placed in other writing contests are not eligible.

• Stories previously accepted in this contest in previous years are not eligible.

• Simultaneous submissions are allowed. You may submit a new story to our contest while it is also being considered for other contests, so long as it has not won or placed at the time of submission.

• Stories should be suitable for a general audience.

• Authors must live in San Diego County.

• Only one (1) story per author.

The winner last year in the 2022 contest was David J. Schmidt for his story “Enter the Laag.” David is a member of SDWEG and served on the Guild’s Board of Directors in 2022.

For more information about prizes and answers to frequently asked questions, see the Library’s webpage: https://www.sandiego.gov/public-library/short-story-contest