Named in memory of Story Circle Network friend and supporter, Judy Alter, a prolific writer and blogger, the Judy Alter Online Writing Competition is open for submissions beginning January 1, 2026, through February 22, 2026 (firm deadline). You can check out Judy’s blog here: https://judys-stew.blogspot.com/.)
Your post on a blog (yours or another) or on Substack, Medium, or other online writing platform published between March 1, 2025, and February 22, 2026, is eligible for entry.
2026 Topic: UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Loose Ends that Refuse to Stay Tied
Life’s not perfect. Some loose ends may never get trimmed and tidied. ~Hoda Kotb
Then I felt that I might take the opportunity to tie up a few loose ends, only of course, loose ends can never be properly tied; one is always producing new ones. ~Iris Murdoch (The Sea, the Sea)
Novels end nicely and neatly with all obstacles overcome. Loose ends tied up. My own story just keeps unraveling with depressing predictability. ~Megan E. Freeman (Alone)
Prizes of $100, $75. and $50 will be awarded to the top three entries. The first-place post will be published in the Story Circle Journal and links to all winning blogs will be featured on SCN's website.
Rules
- You must be a dues-paying member of Story Circle Network to enter. (To join, use our online membership form.)
- The $25 entry fee can be paid online or by check.
- One entry per member.
- To be eligible, your entry must be unpublished (other than on your blog or other writing platform, of course). We define a "published" piece as one that has been reviewed and accepted by an editor, either for a print or an online publication.
- Your post on a blog (yours or another), on Substack, Medium, or another online writing platform, is eligible for entry if it was published between the dates indicated.
- A quote relevant to the topic (one shown above or another of your choosing) must be included in the post as an epigraph, and the post must grow out of the quote.
- Each entry must be titled and no longer than 750 words.
- Story Circle Network does not provide a platform for targeted political or religious arguments, and such entries are not eligible.
- Story Circle Network does not accept work created (in whole or in part) using Artificial Intelligence (AI) generated text. Submissions found to be crafted using computer-generated text of any kind will be disqualified.
- Winners' posts must be available for publication in the Journal.
- You must submit your entry to us electronically by using our online form [see below] and include a link to your blog.
- By submitting your blog post, you are giving Story Circle the right to publish it in the Journal, in its other print publications, and on its website. However, authors retain copyright.
- Prize winners in our writing competitions are ineligible to enter the same competition in the year following a win. You are, however, invited to serve as a jury member that year.
Criteria and Judging
The post you submit should be fresh and original, rich in detail, polished and carefully proofread, relevant to women’s lives, and responsive to the topic. Your blog should have a clear overall theme, be attractive and engaging, and be consistently updated. See the 2025 winning posts below for examples.
1st Place: Lynda Smith Hoggan for What the Stars See
2nd Place: Maria O'Rourke for The Time I Ran Away from a Monastery
3rd Place: Pat Bean for Starting Over: Lemonade from Lemons
Deadline
Posts published on your blog between March 1, 2025 and February 22, 2026 are eligible to enter. We will be open for submissions from January 1 to February 22, 2026.
Notification
Winners will be notified when the judging is concluded.
How to Enter
Contest entries should be made via the form below. (Available only while contest is open, only when logged in. To join, go here.)
This contest is for members only. If you area dues-paying member, please log in and return to this page to submit.
