FIRST CONTACT
Entries accepted Jan. 1 – May 15, 2026
Tampa Bay high school students are invited to submit original, unpublished short stories on the theme of “first contact.”
“First Contact” – The first encounter between humans and intelligent extraterrestrial life, or of any sentient species’ first encounter with another one.
For example, your story may involve a physical meeting, on Earth or elsewhere; detection of an alien signal or other communication; or the discovery of alien artifacts or technology.
Download the writing contest rubric
Download a list of suggested resources
Entries will be judged by a panel of experts including:
- Hugo, Locus, Nebula Award-winning author Joe Haldeman
- Hugo, Locus, Nebula and John W. Campbell Memorial Award-winning author Nancy Kress
- Canopus and Sidewise Award-winning author, editor and educator Rick Wilber
MEET THIS YEAR'S JUDGES
CONTEST RULES
- Contest is open to all students over the age of 13 in grades 9 to 12 in public, private and home schools in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties.
- Stories must be previously unpublished and unsold.
- There is no fee to enter.
- Entrants may submit an unlimited number of stories.
- Stories must be submitted in MS Word (doc or docx) or Portable Document Format (pdf) format.
- Stories should be between 1,000 and 5,000 words.
- Stories should be typed in 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font, double-spaced, with one-inch margins and numbered pages.
- The author’s name should not appear on the manuscript.
- All entries must be received by May 15, 2026, 11:59 PM EST. Entrants are strongly encouraged to submit in advance of the deadline in case of technical difficulties.
- View the complete official rules.
- View the contest flyer.
