41st Annual Iris & Stanley Shalit Short Story Competition

Writing Prompt - "Half Empty or Half Full?"

Open to all Pinellas County Middle School (grades 6-8) and High School (grades 9-12) Public, Private, Parochial, and Home School Students

About the Prompt - Half Empty or Half Full

When we hear the familiar idiom about the glass being half empty or half full, what do we think that means?  We probably react positively or negatively. What if the glass is BOTH half empty and half full, all according to how we look at things. Are we optimistic? Are we pessimistic? Are we both? Are there circumstances where both can exist at the same time? Should we just get a different glass!?! Is this a psychological analysis or just statement of fact? Are we an optimist, a pessimist, or just a realist? Is it just a matter of perspective so that the glass can be BOTH half empty and half full at the same time? Or maybe it's just the wrong size glass?! Pour me another. Does this have anything to do with being either an optimist or a pessimist, or can you see it both ways, all at the same time? Is it just a matter of Perspective or Experience because maybe our attitude changes from grade to grade? Write a fictional story (made-up characters and made-up situation) where the character(s) confront those questions of half empty or half full and make choices that help them define the difference.

About the Story

Your story should feature a character (or characters) confronting the concept of life as "half empty" or half full".  Center the plot around an experience, setting, problem, challenge, tragedy, triumph or other circumstances where the character(s) must make decisions and possibly change based on their perspective. 

Describe the characters in detail - how they look, communicate, act, feel and think. While "half empty or half full" is not the title of your story, it should be central to your story's conflict and resolution. Remember, this must be an original story created by you.

Submission Guidelines

• Stories MUST include a cover sheet with all of the following information: Title, Student's Name, Student's Age, School Grade, Teacher's Name Teacher's Email, Parent/Guardian Name, Home Address, Home Phone, and Home Email
• Stories should be typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, and no more than 5 numbered pages
• Stories should be original, fiction, written by one writer
• Stories should be carefully edited and proofread, with attention paid to grammar and spelling
• Do not attach drawings, photographs, or any other material
• Stories will not be accepted by mail or drop-off
• Stories MUST be submitted in PDF format via email. No other formatting is accepted. Submit the PDF to libraryshortstorycompetition@gmail.com
• Participation implies consent that these stories may be circulated to a panel of readers
• Submissions are restricted to Pinellas County residents

Questions and Submissions

Email questions and submissions to Ben Wiley, Short Story Competition Chair at libraryshortstorycompetition@gmail.com Submissions must be in PDF format.

Submissions Due: Saturday, March 29th by 5:00pm

Winners and Prizes

Middle School: 1st place - $150, 2nd place - $100, 3rd place - $75, Honorable Mentions - $50
High School: 1st place - $250, 2nd place - $125, 3rd place - $100, Honorable Mentions - $50

Winners will be notified by phone and/or email. Awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 11:00am

Friends of the Largo Library reserve the right to duplicate and distribute, in part or in whole, any submitted short story. 

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