Holiday Writing Contest
Can You Tell a Good Christmas Tale?
We start the story...and you finish it...in our 19th annual holiday writing contest!
We know many of our readers like to spin a good yarn—maybe not professionally, but just for the fun of expressing themselves. Or perhaps you enjoy writing down family memories for your kids or grandkids to cherish for years to come.
If that sounds like you, here's a chance to demonstrate your way with words...and maybe even win a fun prize!
Below is the start of a Christmas story—written in such a way that it could have all kinds of surprise endings. That's where the fun begins. We'd like you to finish the story in 300 words or less. Our editors will carefully study the entries and print the best ones in the February/March 2026 issue.
First Prize
A weekend getaway for two in Boone, including:
- A night in the King Jacuzzi Suite at Cobblestone Inn & Suites
- Two dinner train tickets on the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad
- And much more!
Second Prize
$150 gift certificate for tasty pork products from Berkwood Farms
Third Prize
The Ultimate Christmas Trio Tower from Lillie Mae Chocolates
The deadline for this contest is Friday, December 12.
With that, here is the beginning of the Christmas story that we'd love for you to give an ending:
THAT’S THE BEGINNING… you take it from there. Limit your ending to 300 words (not counting our beginning).
The deadline is Monday, December 15. That way we’ll have time to judge the entries and pick the best ones for our next issue.
