The Stanley Ratteray Memorial Christmas Short Story Contest is under way.

The competition deadline is Tuesday, December 1, at 5pm. The contest is open to Bermudians or residents of Bermuda and stories may be fiction or non-fiction.

Cash prizes will be presented in each of three categories, 13 and under, 18 and under, and Adults. The winner in each section will receive $400 and the runner-up will receive $250. Third place will receive $125.

Stories should have a Bermuda focus. Judges look for vivid Christmas themes and local references, and consider originality, content, punctuation, correct spelling and grammar.

Judges prefer entries from students to be free of violence, as Christmas is a time of peace.

Entries must be in Microsoft Word or in the body of an e-mail. They should not exceed 1,500 words and must be e-mailed to shortstory@royalgazette.com.

Entries should be clearly marked “Christmas Short Story Contest” and include the writer’s name, age, address and contact phone numbers.

Teachers: please make sure the name, age of the student and contact number of their parents is included on every entry. Judges may contact the winners during the evening when schools are closed. Contact details will be kept confidential. Pen names will not be accepted. Please, no poetry.

Stories received after the deadline will not be considered. A panel of judges will decide the winning entries that will appear in The Royal Gazette’s Christmas Greetings supplement which will be published on Friday, December 18.

Because of the high volume of submissions, Royal Gazette staff cannot respond to telephone or e-mail inquiries once an entry is submitted. The Royal Gazette reserves the right to publish any or all of the stories submitted.