Thank you for your interest in our annual Write Out of This World: Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Story and Short Comic Contest. As a museum whose mission is to make creative expression a life-changing force by offering experiences that inspire and connect our communities, our goal each year for the contest is to encourage young writers and provide an outlet for their creativity. 

HUGE NEWS! Write Out of This World now includes a comic track! Creators may now submit a science fiction or fantasy comic to be considered for judging.  

Submissions are judged by a panel of experts including MoPOP curators, professional writers, professional graphic artists, and Seattle community leaders. 

Short story submissions must be 200-2000 words long and be in the genre of sci-fi and or fantasy. Student winners for first, second, and third place will be awarded by grade level in the following categories: 3rd–5th, 6th–8th, and 9th–12th.  

Short comic submissions must meet the following requirements.  Different age groups will be required to send in different lengths of comics:  3rd-5th = 8 pages, 6th-8th = 16 pages, 9th-12th = 24 pages.  In addition, every comic must also include a cover and title page with the names of the participants and the year it was made. There is no page size minimum or maximum. Students may collaborate with one another with a maximum of 2 people working on a project in the same age range. When two students from different grade levels work together, their page requirement will be that of the higher-grade level. 

Contest winners are invited to participate in workshops with Jack Straw Cultural Centers’ and Very Very Spaceships' experienced team of arts professionals. Prize package includes a workshop on writing and editing, vocal coaching, a recording session to produce an audio version of their winning entry, an MoPOP family membership for one year, sponsored prizes, and an opportunity to read excerpts from their story in MoPOP’s Sky Church during an awards ceremony held on May 2nd, 2020.  More prizing to be announced!

For more information or questions about the contest, contact joshc@mopop.org