2026 Student Flash Fiction Competition
Oliver Scribblers meet twice a month to share and discuss their original flash fiction pieces -- short short stories, no more than 1000 words in length. This competition is intended to reach out to students in the area and encourage them to write creative, original pieces. The three top entries in the four categories will receive a cash prize.
Prize money was generously donated by the Kiwanis Club of Oliver. The Oliver Scribblers thank the Kiwanis members wholeheartedly for their interest and investment in our young people.
THE BASICS
Students attending Southern Okanagan Secondary School and Osoyoos Secondary School may enter. Teachers will review the entries and select the best ten stories as finalists from each of:
· Southern Okanagan Secondary School junior school
· Southern Okanagan Secondary School senior school
· Osoyoos Secondary School junior school
· Osoyoos Secondary School senior school
October 31st 2026 is the deadline for teachers to submit ten best entries from each group to the Scribblers. They may be dropped off at the Oliver Library or the Osoyoos Library.
The finalists’ stories will be judged by the Oliver Scribblers and a winner and two runners up will be chosen for each category. The Oliver Scribbler’s decisions are final. Prizes of $100.00 for the winner of each category and $50.00 each for the two runners-up will be awarded at the Oliver Library, date to be determined. Teachers will be notified.
Winning entries will be published on the Castanet website. Printed copies will be available to the public at the Oliver Library.
RULES & REQUIREMENTS
· Stories may be any genre, set 25 years in the future, reflecting how the world has or has not changed in that time.
· The top line of every entry must contain the author’s name, grade, school, word count and teacher’s name.
· The title is important, make it meaningful.
· Maximum length: 1000 words (yes, even the, a, and, or … all count as words) Printed on plain white letter-size paper, 1” margins, double-spaced, 12 Point Times New Roman, printed on one side only.
· Entries must be original and entirely the author’s work, not previously published.
· No use of AI writing tools is permitted.
· Submissions must contain text only. No graphics, hyperlinks, or special effects.
· Submissions made to the author’s English teacher for initial evaluation.
JUDGING
Finalists’ stories will be judged by the members of the Oliver Scribblers. Judges will be looking for originality, a compelling story line, fitting title, correct format, spelling, grammar, usage and punctuation.
Our judges’ decisions are final.