Annual Christmas Story Contest Deadlines Dec. 8 at Noon

BRISTOl, Va. – The 19th annual Bristol Herald Courier Christmas Story Contest offers a way for readers to share tales of Christmas cheer, charity and other holiday thoughts.
The contest is open to children and adults in three categories: children ages 12 and younger; children from 13-18; and adults ages 19 and up. The winner in each category will receive $100.
Winners’ stories will be published on Thursday, Dec. 25. Deadline for stories and artwork is noon Monday, Dec. 8, and will not be accepted after that time.
The stories must be in keeping with the Christmas spirit and must be original. Stories may be fictional or accounts of real-life situations, but must be written in story form, not as letters, poems or notes.
Artwork may accompany stories but is not required.
Any work submitted by adults or children must be the complete work of the writer. No changes shall be made by anyone but the writer, except for grammar and spelling.
Judges in each category will select winners and their decisions are final.
Pictures, drawings or stories cannot be returned, due to the popularity of the contest and the volume of stories received.
Stories should not be longer than 750 words; however, judges make the final decisions on merit of the story, if it is longer than 750 words.
Relatives of Bristol Herald Courier, Richlands News-Press, Smyth County News & Messenger, Southwest Virginia Enterprise and Washington County News, News Channel 11 and TriCities.com employees are not eligible to enter. One entry per person.
Winners within the past five years are also not eligibile, but may contact the Bristol Herald Courier to be considered as one of the judges.
Entries must include the writer’s name, address, telephone number, age and best times to contact the writer. Age of the writer is extremely important.
Mail entries to: Christmas Story Contest, Bristol Herald Courier, P.O. Box 609, Bristol, VA 24203. Stories may also be hand-delivered to the newspaper offices, e-mailed to Linn Casey at or faxed to (276) 669-3696. Call Casey at (276) 669-2181 to confirm receipt. For more information, contact Casey by e-mail at .
The winner in each category will be notified by telephone. A daytime contact number is critical. If faxing a story, be sure to allow plenty of time before the deadline and call to confirm receipt.