Literacy center seeks to promote creativity, local talent with Flash Fiction Contest

The Literacy Center of West Michigan is encouraging aspiring and accomplished writers to enter their previously unpublished short story of 500 words or less to its first annual Flash Fiction Contest. The entry fee is $15 and entries are accepted through this Sunday, June 30.

“Flash fiction is a short story that’s so short anyone can read it in a flash,” says Lindsay McHolme, Director with the Community Literacy Initiative (CLI) at the Literacy Center. “We felt that the idea of writing a short story would be less daunting and more fun than other writing tasks.”

McHolme says flash fiction is also a good way to make the contest more accessible to adult learners at the Literacy Center as well as the greater community.

The top 10 entries will be considered by Rhoda Janzen, The New York Times bestselling author of “Mennonite in a Little Black Dress.” Janzen will read through these entries and select the top three.

“Our top three finalists will win cash prizes and recognition at the Community Literacy Summit 2013, an annual literacy conference organized by the Literacy Center of West Michigan’s Community Literacy Initiative,” says McHolme.

The contest is another unique way for the Literacy Center to promote literacy. McHolme says giving illiterate adults an opportunity to gain reading and writing skills is always the main goal.

“Everyone has a stake in literacy," she says. "Whether you’re a parent, an employer, an educator, a health care provider or other service provider, you can be part of the solution.”