Are You the Next Hemingway? Short Story Writing Contest

Marilyn Mai | Apr 26, 2011 6:00 pm | 13 comments | 2766 reads

Everybody has to start somewhere. Ernest Hemingway had the Toronto Star, Virginia Woolf had the Times Literary Supplement, and even on the China scene, Peter Hessler had the New Yorker … now you can get your big break through the My Beijing Stories.com Short Story Writing Contest.

Ok, so maybe that borders on delusions of grandeur. But you know, before you’re submitting to the big boys, you have to at least write something, and then get people to read it. This would be a good start. The bonus? You can win RMB 1,000 (or RMB 500) for your troubles.

The details:

-Submit a non-fiction China story (that either happened to you or someone you know).

-Must be 3,000 words or less.

-Your story will be posted on the My Beijing Stories website, where members will vote for their favorites.

-Story submission runs Apr 28-May 18, and voting runs May 19-29.

Just think, that time you were robbed at knifepoint and pushed into a squatty might not be for naught. Disappearing ayi? Nightmare trip to the security bureau? All good short story fodder!

Ok, maybe good things happen to you here, too, like being swept up to star in a commercial or TV show. Whatever the case, write up your story and send it in, where others will vote for the best stories. Winner with the most votes will receive a RMB 1,000 cash prize, and the runner up will get RMB 500.

For all the competition fine print (eligibility, rights, yada yada yada), check out the My Beijing Stories.com website. Please excuse their “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” aesthetic, which I’m sure is meant to call would-be contestants to action while maintaining an air of early '90s street cred. Word.

Those of you feeling more ambitious can look into the M Literary Residency sponsored by Capital M. Every year the restaurant group sets up two writers for three months, one in Shanghai and the other outside of Bangalore. Check here for more information.

Photo from www.planetofsuccess.com.

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FYI_yall's picture FYI_yall Submitted by Guest on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 02:10

@Marilyn Mai

The GT's Flash Fried Fiction (FFF) short story contest will be publishing the last of its 12 accepted stories this Friday, May 20.

The contest’s top three winners will be announced at a reading ceremony at Punk@Opposite House on June 28 at 6 to 9 pm (20RMB entry, proceeds go to the Dandelion School for migrant children, sorry for the shameless plug!). All top three winners will receive books courtesy of the Bookworm, while the top winner will also receive a 5,000RMB cash prize. All twelve published writers will receive a copy of the Bookworm’s Mala literary journal.

This year’s FFF judges include UK-based literary agent Toby Eady, Hong Kong-based literary translator Harvey Thomlinson and Chinese architect, creative guru and editor of the literary journal Chutzpah Ou Ning. One of the contest’s participating writers drew interest from Mr. Eady, and will potentially be signing with him.

Also the GT article you linked to was written well before the contest’s deadline, and was generally inaccurate in appraising how much interest it garnered from writers. One of the 12 published stories was written by an author previously long-listed for the Man Asian Literary Prize. Here’s more recent news of what’s been going on with the contest: http://en.huanqiu.com/beijing/culture/2011-03/640020.html

Contact flashfriedfiction@gmail.com for more info on next year’s contest.

BeijingBloke's picture BeijingBloke Submitted by Guest on Tue, 05/10/2011 - 06:22

My Beijing Stories<br /> wrote:
Your story can be funny, gross, informative, scary, touching, frustrating or fun

Well yeah but ultimately it will have to be something that the readership of your website can not only relate to, but also like.... so

‎'Na only poor man de sabi say him brother never chop since
morning. The big oga wey put poor man for sun no de remember. Because why? Him
own belle done full up with cornflake and milik and omlate.'

My Beijing Stories's picture My Beijing Stories Submitted by Guest on Wed, 05/04/2011 - 17:16

We are already getting entries for the contest!

Your story can be funny, gross, informative, scary, touching, frustrating or fun – anything as long as it’s an entertaining and true story that happened to you or someone you know in China.

Take a look at the stories already on www.mybeijingstories.com if you need any inspiration!

If you like My Beijing Stories.com, support us with a link in your signature!

www.mybeijingstories.com

My Beijing Stories's picture My Beijing Stories Submitted by Guest on Wed, 04/27/2011 - 00:58

Hi Catherine,

Thanks for your interest in the competition! Absolutely, second language English writers are welcome to join. Entries are judged by votes from the readers themselves, so your story being a great, entertaining read is what really matters.

You can find additional contest details here.

Good luck!

If you like My Beijing Stories.com, support us with a link in your signature!

www.mybeijingstories.com

sereneselchie's picture sereneselchie Submitted by Guest on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 20:20

Dear Madam,

I am a native Chinese speaker, I use English as a second language, but I am very fond of writing especially expressing my ideas and making myself known for it. I am wondering if I am qualified for this competition and if I am, am I going to compete with those native English speakers by the same standard or am I going to get some sort of discount since I am apparently at a disadvantage as far as the English language is concerned.

Thank you very much, I look forward to your reply.

Sincerely yours
Catherine

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