Short Story Submission

Submission Deadline: Jan. 7, 2025

Short stories must be 1,500 to 2,500 words submitted through our form.
One short story submission per entrant per year.
There is no theme or topic requirement. Subject must be PG-13 to be considered.
Entries will be judged on originality, organization of ideas, grammar/spelling and voice.
Submitted stories must be the author’s original work and cannot have been previously published elsewhere (after they are published, the rights revert to the author, and they are free to have their work published elsewhere at that time).

Short story entrants must be a resident of Montgomery County, Maryland or Upper NW Washington, D.C. (20015 and 20016 ZIP codes are eligible).
The contest will give awards in two categories: High school (currently enrolled in grades 9-12 as of March 1, 2025) and Adults (ages 18+).

First Place: $500; free admission to a class at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda; your story featured in Bethesda Magazine; and your story featured online.
Second Place: $250; your story featured online.
Third Place: $150; your story featured online.
Honorable Mention: $100; your story featured online.

Please direct all questions about the short story contest to Jillian Lynch at jillian.lynch@bethesdamagazine.com

Thank you for your interest in Bethesda Magazine's short story contest. The submission period has now ended.