Appalachian Literary Arts & Storytelling Festival

The Details

The 2025 ALAS Festival’s Writing Contest is open for submissions! Submit the first 2500 words of your previously unpublished, complete fiction manuscript by June 15, 2025.

​

April 30-June 15: Writing Contest Window Open

• Writers must submit three PDF documents to alasfestival1024@gmail.com

  • First 2500 words of previously unpublished, complete manuscript

  • 100 word Author Bio (and Writer CV if you have one)

  • 250 word summary of full manuscript 

June 20-July 20: Initial Judging Window

• All submissions are read and scored by July 20; ALAS Festival committee chooses the top 5

• Rubric categories:

  • Connection to Appalachian Themes

  • Character Complexity

  • Authentic Settings

  • Writing Style/Voice

July 20: Top 5 Finalist Notifications

• Finalists are emailed at the address they used to enter

• Complete manuscript (limited to 100,000 words) must be received by July 31. 

• Finalists are invited to the Awards Brunch on October 5th.

August 1: Finalists Announced

​

Aug 1 – 31: Final Judging 

• MCP Rep & ALAS Festival Rep score full manuscripts again 

• Final decision made by Aug 31

Sept 1 - Sept 25: Awards ordered & finalized

Oct 5 @ ALAS Festival Awards Brunch: Winners Announced

• 1st place: Trophy + Publishing Contract with Monday Creek Publishing

• 2nd place: Medal + Registration Fee Waiver for Appalachian Writers Conference in Berea, Kentucky

• 3rd place: Medal + Recognition 

​

Oct ‘25 - Sept ‘26 — This time is for the winning author and MCP to take the manuscript through formal stages of publication 

2026 ALAS Festival — As the previous winner, the 2025 winner reads an excerpt during the ALAS Festival Awards Brunch, has space at The Hocking Hills Book Fair to sell copies, etc.

​
 

*Disclaimer – this contest is not open to ALAS Festival Committee members or their family members.