The Current Mini-Contest
Mini-Contest #65 launched on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
THE LONG AND SHORT OF FAMILY ARGUMENTS
For this mini-contest, tell, show, or evoke a complete story about some kind of family dispute or disagreement… TWICE. Give us a longer version of the story (75-100 words long) and then rewrite that same story into a traditional mini-contest length (25-50 words long). We’re adding a bit of money to the prize pool, since you’re working harder this time.
The contest submission page will have TWO text boxes for your story, each clearly labeled.
Long version of the family disagreement story: between 75 and 100 words.
Short version of the same story: between 25 and 50 words.
Publication: Winners will be published on or around Sunday, April 12, 2026, when the next short story contest launches.
Hyphenated Words: Words that are normally hyphenated, but generally considered one word, are considered one word for this contest. (Examples: “Twenty-three”, “Jack-o-lantern”, and “Father-in-law” are each one word.) However, stringing a bunch of words together with hyphens for artistic effect will result in each connected word being counted separately. (Example: “It was a get-out-of-my-way day.” That hyphenated phrase counts as five words.)
Special Prizes for This Contest: First place pays $45, second pays $35, and third pays $25, all in US dollars. Honorable mentions get published, but make no money.
One entry (in this case, one pair of entries) per author. There is no fee for entering this contest.
To submit an entry, click the button below and follow the instructions. If you don’t already have a (free) Submittable account, you’ll be prompted to make one.
By the way, please don’t give your mini-contest entry a title. We never publish titles for mini-contest entries, just the entries themselves.
If you have questions, ask us at Questions@OnThePremises.com.