2024 Foothills Forum-Rappahannock News Storytelling Contest kicks off

Foothills Forum and the Rappahannock News are hosting a Storytelling Contest for Rappahannock County students for a chance to win up to $500. We want you to showcase your creative ability to tell a story and be featured in the Rappahannock News. 

Who can participate?

Everyone! Students in grades 7-8 and 9-12 who attend Rappahannock County Public Schools, Wakefield Country Day School, Hearthstone School, Belle Meade Montessori School and homeschoolers who live in Rappahannock County.

What are the prompts?

• Tell a story about yourself, pretending that it will be put into a time capsule for you to open in 20 years. Describe what you imagine your life will be like between now and then.

• You have just won a round-trip airplane ticket to travel anywhere in the world. Tell a story about where you would go, why you want to go there, and what you expect to experience in this place.

• Tell a story about a person you admire, making clear why you feel this way. OR tell a story about a person or type of person you tend to avoid and why. [not a teacher]

• Look up “Spoon River Anthology” and use it as a model to create a Rappahannock County Anthology that tells the story of the small fictional town of Rapp River. In a collection of 4-5 short pieces, put different spotlights on the variety of people who live in Rapp River, what makes the town unique, and the experiences of a Rapp River teenager. If written, each short piece should be about 250 words. 

• Imagine you don’t use your cellphone, tablet, and/or computer outside of school for three months. Tell the story of what that is like for you, including how you replace your screen time. What would this experiment be like? Would you feel more isolated or more connected to things and/or people that are meaningful to you?

• It’s about 20 years into the future and you’ve moved out of Rappahannock County. Looking back, what would you like to remember about the county, good or bad?

Directions

• Use one of the six prompts as an inspiration for your story. 

• Stories may be created in any media, including: essay, poetry, music, art, audio, video or photography. Your response should be substantial enough to convey a thorough response to the prompt.

• You may be the sole creator OR you may collaborate with up to two other students to create your story. Prize money will be awarded for each winning entry, no matter how many collaborators. 

• Submit your story no later than midnight March 28. Submission details to come.

What are the prizes?

Prizes are given separately to middle and high schoolers. Winners will be selected by an independent panel of judges.

• 1st Prize: $500 and Certificate

• 2nd Prize: $300 and Certificate

• 3rd Prize: $200 and Certificate

• Honorable Mention(s): Certificate

What is required for your submission?

• Essays or other written works should be at least a few paragraphs long, or long enough to tell your story well (no more than 1000 words).

• Videos/digital/TikTok etc. must be at least 1 minute long but no longer than 10 minutes.

• Artwork can be any size, using any medium.

• Creations MUST conform with your school’s student code of conduct.

When will winners be announced?

The Storytelling Recognition Ceremony announcing winners will be April 18 at the Little Washington Theatre. If numbers warrant it, the ceremony will be held at RCHS.

Questions? Reach out to Rappahannock News editor Julia Shanahan at [email protected], or contest chair Edie Tatel at [email protected].

Take a look at last year’s winners:

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