Font size options
Increase or decrease the font size for this website by clicking on the 'A's.
Contrast options
Choose a color combination to give the most comfortable
contrast.
Open to all Pinellas County Middle School (grades 6-8) and High School (grades 9-12) Public, Private, Parochial, and Home School Students
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.
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.
Email questions and submissions to Ben Wiley, Short Story Competition Chair at libraryshortstorycompetition@gmail.com Submissions must be in PDF format.
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.
AGE GROUP: | Tweens | Teen (12-18) |
EVENT TYPE: | Special Events | Literacy |