Content on this page:
Regional Winners
Details about the Contest
Eligibility & Guidelines
Story Contest Sponsors

Need assistance?
Please contact us.

Contest Downloads

	2013 Story Contest Entry and Rules (2 pages)
	2013 Flyer with Details and Guidelines (2 pages)
	Writing Guide (15 pages)
	PBS LearningMedia (link)

Entry Deadline

*The deadline has passed. This content is provided for informational purposes only. Changes will occur next year. Do not reply on this information Entries must have a completed entry form which is signed by a parent or guardian.
Mail or deliver entries to WQPT, 3561 60th Street, Moline, Illinoislinois 61265. (WQPT is located on the second floor of the 60th Street campus for Western Illinois University.)
Online entries will NOT be accepted this year.

Outside Our Viewing Area?

If you live outside the western Illinois and eastern Iowa (predominately our viewing area), please contact your closest PBS station to learn how to enter the contest.

Writing Guide

Helpful for teachers and parents as a guide to teach better writing skills (available at left).

PBS LearningMedia

PBS LearningMedia is a free library of digital resources for teachers. Explore Professional Development for suggestions on how to teach better writing skills. Learn more.

Local Judging

A panel of regional judges will be comprised of educators, volunteers and story contest sponsors who will read and judge local stories based on these criteria:
40% creativity and originality of plot
and/or themes,
40% story structure and use of literary devices,
20% relevance, quality and originality
of illustrations.

National Judging

First place winners will see their stories posted on our website and go on to compete in the national contest for tablet computers, e-readers and MP3 players. The national winners will be announced during the summer, and their stories will be featured on pbskids.org.

National judges include: Lisa Henson, chief executive officer of The Jim Henson Company; Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid; Kat Klimo, vice-president and publisher of Random House/Golden Books; Jarrett Krosoczka, author and illustrator of Lunch Lady and many others, Susan Meddaugh, author and illustrator of Martha Speaks; and R.L. Stine, author of the Goosebumps series.

Eligibility

Entrants must be in kindergarten, first, second or third grade.
Only 1 entry per child will be accepted.
Only single authored stories qualify (no coauthors).
Stories can be fact or fiction, and prose or poetry.
No fee or purchase necessary to enter.

Format

Stories must have at least 5 original, clear and colorful illustrations.
Original art can include drawings, collages and 3-D created by the author or photographs taken by the author.
Stories must be created on one side of the paper and numbered on the back of each page.

Additional Details, Conditions & Help

Most questions and additional details may be located in the downloadable Entry Form (shown above).
Need help? If you need assistance, please contact us.

Word Count and Other Details

Kindergarten and first grade stories must have a minimum of 50 words and maximum of 200 words.
Second and third grade stories must have a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 350 words.
The word count includes "a," "an," and "the," but not the words on the non-story pages such as the title page or those that enhance the illustrations.
Text must be printed or written legibly or typed.
Children who cannot write may dictate their story to be printed, written legibly or typed.
Text may be integrated into the illustration pages or on separate pages.
Non-English text must be translated on the same page and the translated text (English) must adhere to word count.
Invented spelling is accepted.