Berkshire Athenaeum Announces Annual Short Story Contest
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield's Public Library, and the Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum announced the launch of the 48th Annual Short Story Writing Contest for Children and the 29th Annual Short Story Writing Contest for Young Adults.
The contest is officially open, and submissions will be accepted through 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026.
Open to ages 6 to 18, young writers throughout the community are invited to put their imaginations to work, craft original stories, and share their unique perspectives through the written word, stated a press release.
"Every year, we're amazed by the creativity, imagination, and talent displayed by our young writers," said Sara Russell-Scholl, youth services supervisor. "This contest gives children and teens an opportunity to express themselves, build confidence in their writing, and discover the power of storytelling. We look forward to celebrating the incredible voices that emerge from our community this summer."
The Library welcomes submissions through several convenient options. Entries may be delivered in person, mailed to Berkshire Athenaeum, ATTN: Short Story Contest, One Wendell Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201, or submitted by email: Children's entries should be sent to childrens@pittsfieldlibrary.org, while Young Adult entries should be emailed to youngadult@pittsfieldlibrary.org.
For complete contest rules, guidelines, and submission details, visit www.pittsfieldlibrary.org, email childrens@pittsfieldlibrary.org with "Short Story Contest" in the subject line, or call the Children's Library at (413) 499-9480, option 5.
