Conditions of Entry and other information

Conditions of Entry

Students may write their short story on any idea that appeals to them.

1. Stories by Year 3-4 students (Section 1) should not be longer than 500 words, or one page;
2. Stories by Year 5-6 students (Section 2) should not be longer than 750 words;
3. Entries should be typed in 12-point Georgia font, A4 page format, with pages numbered and not include ornaments or pictures.
4. One entry per student, please.
5. All entries should include:
   • student’s first and second name,
   • school,
   • year at school,
   • contact information to an adult (teacher or parent)
   • story title, followed by the story.
   • Optionally, include your pen-name, only if you do not wish your story to be published under your real name.
6. Entries must be student’s own work, unpublished and not having won any other competition.
7. Story line needs to be student’s own.
8. Stories should be suitable for young readers.
9. Before sending an entry, students are advised to run a spelling check, check the word count, re-read the story checking for grammar, paragraphs and punctuation and re-read again to check if they are happy with their story.
10. All entries need to be submitted as separate Microsoft Word or Google Docs documents and not as pdf or scanned documents. Please use the story title, for the entry document, not student’s name.
11. Entries should be emailed to tmas@tellmeastory.org.au by Friday, 5^th April 2024.

All entries are accepted for review and evaluation by our panel of reviewers. However, if our reviewers consider a story unsuitable for primary age group readers, it will be submitted to an independent judge who will make the decision as to whether to include the story for further evaluation or to exclude it.  If excluded, the story will be granted a Participation award.

Examples of unsuitable content include (but are not limited to): gratuitous violence, descriptions of gruesome imagery, psychological or physical cruelty, unresolved menace, adult themes, disrespect towards others, ideas that could cause harm, or story ending that may cause fear or distress for young readers.

Other Information

1. Some tips to help you with your story writing:

Story Writing Tips – Tell Me a Story

2. See Downloads for Checklists to help students edit their story before the submission.
3. Please Note:  All personal contact information is kept confidential by Tell Me a Story competition organisers. The judges are only given access to submitted stories and grade at school.

Downloads

Checklist to help students edit their story Years 3-4

Checklist to help students edit their story Years 5-6