The 5th Annual Warren Adler Short Story Contest will run from January 11, 2010 to April 11, 2010. The rules are simple. The stories must be no longer than 2500 words. A $15 entry fee is charged to cover the prizes and various expenses associated with the contest. Subject matter is completely open to the author. Judges will be announced shortly. The goal of the contest is to encourage and publicize the short story as a viable and quality literary form. In the past few decades the short story has lost the popularity it once enjoyed when magazines were plentiful and the short story was a feature of many of them. Indeed, many authors earned their living by writing short stories exclusively.

Cash prizes will be offered to the winners as follows: First Prize: $1000. People’s Choice Prize: $500. Three remaining finalists: $150 each. As in previous contests all winners will be posted on the Warren Adler website.