The Stanford Storytelling Project

Quarterly Story Contests

Each quarter the Storytelling Project sponsors a story contest based on a theme or phrase. We are looking for stories that can be spoken aloud in less than 20 minutes (usually less than 10 pages in double-spaced text). The goal of the contest is to showcase great oral storytelling, whether it be in fiction, memoir, journalism, even poetry or music. Winners will receive fabulous cash prizes, T-shirts, and their pieces will be featured in future episodes of the Storytelling Project's weekly radio show. Anyone in the Stanford community can enter. See below for the details of each quarter's contest. Stories are judged by a magnificent and varied panel of Stanford alumni.

Fall 2008

The Stanford Storytelling Project is pleased to announce the winners of our Fall 2008 Story Contest, "Narrow Escapes" and "Getting Caught."

First prize ($100) goes to Erika Harrell for "Tiretastrophe."
Second prize ($50) goes to AJ Glasser for "Panty-Sniffing."
Third prize ($50) goes to Mandy MacCalla for "The Interstitial Man."

Honorable mentions (and lovely Stanford Storytelling Project T-shirts) go to Jeremy Keeshin for "The First Class Prank" and Meghan Berman for an untitled piece.

Winter 2009

The Stanford Storytelling Project is pleased to announce our Winter 2009 Story Contest, "And then I knew. . ."

We are looking for stories that include this phrase at some pivotal moment. Stories can be of any genre or media (fiction, memoir, journalism, radio play, ballad, you name it) but should be effective when spoken aloud. Stories should be no more tan 20 minutes when delivered out loud. Anyone in the Stanford community may enter. First prize is $100, second and third prizes are $50, and all winners, including any honorable mentions, receive smart-looking Storytelling Project T-shirts.

For details on how to submit your story, please see our submission page.
Deadline: April 15

Spring 2009

Details coming soon.