2025 Graphic Short Story
Contest Details

 
 
 

Eligibility:

  • This contest is open to anyone who currently resides in New York or California state and is currently in high school, or is a high school-aged homeschooler (ages 13 to 19).

    • You do not need any artistic experience or special skills to apply!

    • Only 1 participant per entry.

    • Teens who have participated or are currently participating in Rising Earth’s Teen Production Council, Alumni Teen Production Council, or our Alliance Partnership programs are eligible to apply. If you have created a graphic short story in the past as part of our program, you must create and submit a new story about a different organization.


    You are not eligible to enter if:

    • You have won a Rising Earth Graphic Short Story contest in prior years. 

    • You are a team, such as 1 writer and 1 illustrator.

 

How To Enter:

  • Please review these Guidelines closely. You’ll find details for dimension requirements, acceptable art mediums, file formats, what to submit and where.

  • All entries must include a signed Parent/Legal Guardian Consent Form.

  • To enter: complete the Contest Entry Form where you’ll upload your graphic short story and the consent form.

 

Resources:

  • New York & California Organizations Reference Sheet
    Please review these reference sheets to pick a story that interests you. All of the information within these documents has been vetted and can be used within your story. The reference sheets also provide story ideas if you are feeling stuck! 

  • How To Create A Graphic Short Story
    This document will give you a step by step guidance for how to create a graphic short story.

  • Feel free to browse our Project Gallery to view stories from past years.

  • Please reach out to us with any additional questions!

 

The Selection Process + Criteria

  • Our panel of judges made up of 5 former Rising Earth College Interns, all of whom are familiar with our story projects in the past, will select the 4 winners.

  • The judges will blindly score each entry based on the following 9 categories: Voice. Diverse perspectives. Information. Creativity. Text. Community organization theme. Inspired to take action. Entertaining. Overall impression.

  • For a full description of the categories, we strongly encourage you to review the Judging Criteria throughout your process.