Writers club holds short story contest

The Ventura County Writers Club is sponsoring the ninth annual Short Story Contest.

The grand prize is $500 and publication in the Ventura County Star. Second prize is $250 and third prize is $120.

All stories must be original and not previously published in any newspaper, magazine, or book, regardless of the amount of compensation. First place winners of the last three years are not eligible.

Submissions may be in any genre. Writers may enter any number of stories, as long as each piece is accompanied by a separate entry fee.

Stories are judged "blind," that is, the author's name is only permitted on a cover page which the judges do not see before reading.

The entry fee is $15 for members of the Ventura County Writers Club and $25 for nonmembers.

Entries must be postmarked by Oct. 1. For submission guidelines, call Susan Hutton at (805) 492-3022, e-mail sjh41@yahoo.com or visit www.venturacountywriters.com.