The 3rd Annual
Community Story Contest
El 3er Concurso Anual de Historias de Terror
✨ Enchanted Tales: Student Stories of Mischief, Magic, and Mystery ✨
✨ Cuentos Encantados: Historias Estudiantiles de Travesuras, Magia y Misterio ✨
We are thrilled to announce the third installment of our beloved student story contest! This year, the contest theme is, "Enchanted Tales: Student Stories of Mischief, Magic, and Mystery."
🌟 The contest is open to all children in the community, including private/public school students, homeschoolers, and pre-writers!
*What’s New This Year*
- More than spooky: Stories can be funny, magical, mysterious, or spooky!
- Multiple formats allowed: Submit a written story, a short comic/graphic novel, or even an audio/video storytelling performance.
- Community-wide: Open to students across the area
¡Nos emociona anunciar la tercera edición de nuestro querido concurso de cuentos!
Este año, presentamos un nuevo nombre:
Cuentos Encantados: Historias Estudiantiles de Travesuras, Magia y Misterio.
🌟 El concurso está abierto a todos los niños y niñas de la comunidad.
*Novedades de Este Año*
- Más allá de lo tenebroso: Las historias pueden ser divertidas, mágicas, misteriosas o espeluznantes.
- Se permiten distintos formatos: Puedes enviar un cuento escrito, un cómic corto o ilustrada o incluso una narración en audio o video.
- Abierto a toda la comunidad
Categories & Awards
* Lower Elementary (6–8 years)
* Upper Elementary (9–11 years)
* Teens (12–17 years)
* Family Collaboration (child + grown-up)
Each main category will have several awards:
* Best Story – Judges’ Pick
* Readers’ Choice
Cross-category special awards:
* Funniest Story
* Scariest Story
* Most Magical Story
* Most Thought Provoking
* Most Creative Idea
Judging Panel
2025
Special Guest Judge
Judging Criteria
- - Uniqueness of the idea: Does the story present a fresh and original concept?
- Imaginative elements: Are there imaginative elements that enhance the story, such as world-building, character development, or plot twists?
- Ability to surprise: Does the story manage to surprise or intrigue the reader?
- - Originalidad de la idea: ¿Presenta la historia un concepto fresco y original?
- Elementos imaginativos: ¿Hay elementos imaginativos que enriquezcan la historia, como la construcción de mundo, el desarrollo de personajes o los giros argumentales?
- Capacidad de sorprender: ¿La historia logra sorprender o intrigar al lector?
Creativity and Imagination
Creatividad e Imaginación
Story Structure and Development
- - Beginning, middle, and end: Does the story have a clear beginning, middle, and end?
- Plot development: Does the plot progress logically and keep the reader interested?
- Character development: Are the characters well-developed and believable?
- Relatability: Are the characters relatable to the reader?
- - Principio, medio y final: ¿La historia tiene un claro principio, medio y final?
- Desarrollo de la trama: ¿La trama progresa de manera lógica y mantiene interesado al lector?
- Desarrollo de personajes: ¿Los personajes están bien desarrollados y son creíbles?
- Relación: ¿Los personajes son relacionables para el lector?
Estructura y Desarrollo de la Historia
Writing Mechanics
- - Grammar and spelling: Are there any significant errors in grammar or spelling?
- Sentence structure: Are the sentences varied and well-formed?
- Vocabulary: Does the child use appropriate vocabulary for their age and grade level?
- - Gramática y ortografía: ¿Hay errores significativos en gramática u ortografía?
- Estructura de oraciones: ¿Las oraciones son variadas y bien formadas?
- Vocabulario: ¿El niño utiliza un vocabulario apropiado para su edad y nivel escolar?
Mecánica de Escritura
- - Organization: Is the story well-organized and easy to follow?
- Clarity: Is the writing clear and easy to understand?
- Coherence: Do the ideas in the story flow together logically?
- - Organización: ¿La historia está bien organizada y es fácil de seguir?
- Claridad: ¿La escritura es clara y fácil de entender?
- Coherencia: ¿Las ideas de la historia fluyen juntas de manera lógica?
Clarity and Coherence
Claridad y Coherencia
- - Engagement: Does the story engage the reader and hold their interest?
- Enjoyment: Is the story enjoyable to read?
- Age-appropriateness: Is the story appropriate for the age and grade level of the child?
- - Compromiso: ¿La historia involucra al lector y mantiene su interés?
- Disfrute: ¿Es agradable leer la historia?
- Adecuación a la edad: ¿La historia es apropiada para la edad y el nivel escolar del niño?
Impresión General
Overall Impression
Additional Considerations
Consideraciones Adicionales
- Effort: Does the story show evidence of effort and thoughtfulness?
- Neatness and presentation: Is the story neatly written or typed and presented in a clear and legible manner?
- Adherence to guidelines: Does the story meet the specified word count, genre, and other requirements?
- Esfuerzo: ¿La historia muestra evidencia de esfuerzo y consideración?
- Netiqueta y presentación: ¿La historia está escrita o mecanografiada de manera ordenada y presentada de manera clara y legible?
- Cumplimiento de las pautas: ¿La historia cumple con el número de palabras especificado, el género y otros requisitos?
🎉 Sponsors (thank you!!!) & Partner Prizes 🎁
Manglares Discovery School --> 💵 $100 Cash Prize
WAO Beach Hotel ---> 🏖 One-night stay for up to 4 (non-transferable, subject to blackout periods)
ICT Travel ---> 🛥 Isla Iguana Tour: One child + one companion
Venao Zipline ---> 🌲 Family zipline tour (up to 4 people)
Trico Surf School ---> 🏄♂️ 1 Free surf class with photos & video
Moledet ---> 🎁 Gift Certificate to Steven’s
Eco Venao ---> 🎫 $25 Gift Certificate to Hombre de la Mancha
Padel Venao ---> 🎾 Padel Court Session
Terracotta by Selina ---> 🏺 Pottery Class
Motek ---> 🍫 “Cêpre Nutella” with topping
WAO Poolside Café ---> 🍔 Day pass + burgers, fries & sodas for two
Gatto Blanco ---> 🍕 Family Pizza
(TBD)🎁 Gift Certificate
(TBD)🎁 Gift Certificate
FAQ
Can I work in a group?
Yes, absolutely! Writing can be social and we want you to enjoy the process of writing.
How many stories can I submit?
Please limit to max 2 submissions - for example, one as a group entry and another individual entry.
How scary am I allowed to make my story?
It will be read by adult judges, so feel free to unleash your creativity and explore the depths of horror. Just ensure that your story fulfills the essential elements outlined in the judging criteria. Happy writing!
Can you tell me more about the Family category?
For the family category, we encourage families to collaborate and create together, and empower our little members who are not writing independently yet. The children's ideas should be front and center, showcasing their creativity and perspective. We look forward to reading your heartfelt submissions!
Does my submission have to be scary?
Submissions don’t have to be scary stories. In fact, we highly value funny, heartwarming, or inspirational tales that bring a smile or a sense of hope. And one of the categories is for "Funniest story"! So feel free to share your unique story!
