NEW CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT!

So now that Halloween and the elections are over, we can finally concentrate on what everyone really wants to talk about—the holidays! So here's the skinny: We want you to write a good holiday story or poem. Interpret this liberally. If you want to write about the Solstice (I know I will be!), go right for it. Or how about Thanksgiving, that most eclipsed holiday, or Kwanzaa or Hanukkah or the Islamic New Year or just plain old New Year? Yes, these holidays all get a lot of visibility already, but so much of it is commercialized or relegated to "political correctness" that the underlying possibility for conflict (the lifeblood of storytelling) is largely untapped. So see what you can make of it. And for anyone of the agnostic or atheist persuasion, this contest does not exclude you! The antithetical viewpoint of religion, spirituality, holidays, or what have you would be equally compelling if you do it the right way.

To recap:

1. Write a short story (under 2000 words) or a poem that somehow includes either the season or one of the upcoming holidays.

2. Email your story to hfr@asu.edu with the subject line BLOG HOLIDAY CONTEST and remember to include ALL of your contact information. This is important. Since we're the ones judging, it's probably best not to annoy us.

3. The submission due date is set for December 1 and the winners will start to be posted the following Monday, December 8.

The prize to all winners will be a posting on our blog as well as a free, one-year subscription to Hayden's Ferry Review. Also, as this season is one of peace, love, tolerance, and joy irrespective of any religion, every story that contains unresolved hatred or intolerance toward any sect or group of people WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. You're story doesn't have to be all sparkling lights and tinsel with everyone going home happy at the end, but this one restriction against intolerance, I believe, is reasonable. Not that you would have written a story like that anyway! We look forward to as many wonderful submissions as we received last time!