The fifth annual Bucks County Short Fiction Contest for high-school students is back for 2022, sponsored by Bucks County Community College.

The literary competition invites entries from Bucks County students enrolled in either a traditional in-county high school or are being home schooled (grades 9–12).

The rules, which must be followed precisely to avoid disqualification, are:

• One short story per entrant
• Works must be previously unpublished, including in any online blogs or other forms
• No fan fiction
• Original works only; submissions cannot be based on existing books, movies, or other media
• Submissions must be formatted correctly:
  • 1,450–2,400 words in length
  • Double spaced with standard margins, resulting in 5–10 pages
  • Text in Times New Roman font at a 12-point type size
  • .doc or .docx file formats only
• An entry form must accompany authors’ work
• All works are to be submitted electronically; no paper manuscripts will be considered
• The deadline for file receipt is Mar. 23, 2021

There is no fee to enter.

Winner will be notified by the director of the Bucks Short Fiction Contest, using the contact information provided in the entry form.

The award-winning works will be celebrated at an event — either online or in person, depending on current health conditions — on April 20, at 7:00 p.m.

The contest receives support from the college’s Department of Language and Literature. Contest director is Bucks Professor Elizabeth Luciano, who can be reached by email with questions.

Faculty of the department will serve as judges.