BRATTLEBORO-The Brooks Memorial Library and Oscar Heller announce the launch of the Brattleboro Miniature Masterpiece Flash Fiction Competition, a community-wide celebration of literature, human creativity, and storytelling.
"Miniature fiction is approachable and fun," organizers said in a news release, one that stands as "a creative challenge to the writer: how can you tell a story in 50 words or fewer? How do you sketch out a character, or evoke an emotion, or create humor or suspense, with such limited resources?"
The competition is open to all, including Brattleboro residents, nonresidents, and town staff.
Each submitted be should conform to these guidelines:
• Maximum 50 words.
• Fiction only.
• Entries must be fully human-created; no AI tools.
• No explicit or violent content.
Entries will be evaluated in three age categories (age as of Dec 7):
• Kids: 12 and younger
• Teens: 13–17
• Adults: 18 and older
The submission deadline is midnight, Sunday, Dec. 7. The top 10 selections in each category will be announced Monday, Dec. 15. The selections will be publicly displayed from Dec. 15 through 31, with winners in each category announced on New Year's Day.
A panel of independent judges will evaluate submissions anonymously, with all identifying information removed to ensure fair consideration.
Winners in each age category will receive a $50 local gift certificate and a $50 cash prize
Stories may be submitted in-person to the circulation desk at the Brooks Memorial Library, or digitally at oscarheller.com/miniature-masterpiece. For more information, contact Heller at oheller@brattleboro.gov, or 802-380-6847; or Starr LaTronica, library director, at starr@brookslibraryvt.org or 802-254-5290 ext. 1201.
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.