A Midsummer Tale Narrative Writing Contest
The 2023 contest is open.
Read the General Contest Rules first.
A Midsummer Tale is open April 1 – June 21 annually.
AMT is a summer-themed narrative writing contest open to non-genre1 fiction and creative nonfiction.
The theme of the 2023 A Midsummer Tale writing contest is: Best Friends Forever…?
Inspired by optimistic yearbook signatures, this year’s theme is a tribute to our once-upon-a-time BFFs, the friendships we couldn’t imagine not lasting forever. For this year’s A Midsummer Tale contest, write about a now-troubled—or severed—friendship between two people who were once-inseparable besties. Did the friendship slowly unravel or suddenly break apart? Could the pieces be put back together again or was it time to let it go?
Your story must be set during the hot summer months and the theme must play an integral role in the story.
Identify your story as fiction or creative nonfiction. For CNF entries, please indicate whether names have been changed.
Length: 1,000 words minimum; 5,000 words maximum.
Deadline for entries: 11:59 PM Pacific Time June 21, 2023.
Send entries to amtcontest23@toasted-cheese.com with the subject line: A Midsummer Tale Contest Entry
Entries are blind-judged by Beaver. Decisions are final. Winners are announced July 31.
Winning stories are published in the September issue of Toasted Cheese.
- If 50 or fewer eligible entries are received, first place receives a $35 Amazon gift card & second a $10 Amazon gift card.
- If 51 or more eligible entries are received, first place receives a $50 Amazon gift card, second a $15 Amazon gift card & third a $10 Amazon gift card.
Questions? Ask on the contest announcement post or on Twitter @toasted_cheese.
1“Non-genre fiction” means literary or mainstream fiction. No science fiction, fantasy, mystery, horror, thriller, romance, western or other genre fiction, please.
Past AMT Themes:
- 2022: The End
- 2021: Coming of Age
- 2020: Quarantine
- 2019: Secrets
- 2018: Thunderstorms
- 2017: Summer Love
- 2016: Summer Job
- 2015: Summer Home / Home for the Summer
- 2014: Song of the Summer
- 2013: Retreat / Encounter
- 2012: Snail Mail
- 2011: Water Fire Earth Air
- 2010: Make Believe
- 2009: Growth / Harvest
- 2008: Snapshots
- 2007: The Beach
- 2006: Summer School
- 2005: Road Trip
- 2004: Summer Vacation
- 2003: Hot Summer Nights
- 2002: a transition that takes place over the summer months
