National Short Story Contests   “Young Voices of America"  Calls for Submission Now Open   Over $1,500.00 in Prize Money  Complete Writers Guidelines   Entry Form $500.00 Grand Prize Two (2) $250.00 First Prizes Two (2) $175.00 Second Prizes Two (2) $100.00 Third Prizes Contests Open to U.S. Students Grades 3-12 Public, Private and Home School Students Eligible Category 1– Grades 3-7 Category 2– Grades 8 -12   Planet Mom Young Voices of America Speak Up Community Voice Media, LLC, is sponsoring a continuing series of nationwide short story contests inviting students, 3rd – 12th Grades to Speak Up and share their hopes, dreams and ideas for improving their world. Contests are open to Public, Private and Home Schooled students attending grades 3 through 12.   What a Young Voices of America Story is: 1. Tell an exciting, sad, funny or thought provoking story about something that you want others to learn from.   2. Tell your story in a way that will make people cry, laugh, shoot milk out of their nose or shake their head in wonder. Startle and confound people with your ideas. It doesn’t have to be serious. it can be funny - in fact, we love to laugh. 3. The story should start with action; it should include a problem, issue or situation of interest to people of all ages. It should include dialogue and the characters should express their feelings through the conflict or situation. It should end in a result, such as a lesson learned, or an old idea proven. 4. Most important – Speak Up about your thoughts, dreams, worries, favorite things, etc. We are not looking for an essay or article. We want to see a first person account of an incident either personal, observed or imagined, that tells a compelling story, entertains and makes us think.    What a Young Voices of America Story IS NOT: 1. A sermon, an essay or eulogy. 2. A term paper, thesis, letter or journal entry. 3. Mean spirited or violent.