Editor Interview: Tadpole Press 100 Word Writing Contest

Clever, uplifting pieces.

Autumn Bettinger, Jeff Zentner, Jenny Lawson, Isabel Allende, Maya Angelou, Jen Sincero

At Tadpole Press, we focus on building community and making writing accessible and diverse. This means that we host several Community Write-Ins leading up to each contest deadline where writers from around the world come together to learn, grow, and write. And our contest is open to writers of all ages.

Join us at our upcoming Community Write-Ins! We'll share behind-the-scenes insights to help you craft your best piece, saving some quiet writing time to work on your entry. Plus you get to hear exactly what the judges are looking for. Check our website for current write-in dates: https://www.tadpolepress.com/community-write-in

When selecting the winners, we look for the following:
o 100 words or less (including the title).
o A complete and compelling story.
o A story that is nonviolent and focuses on growth rather than suffering.
o A story that includes a clever twist or unexpectedly delights us with a surprise.
o Writing that uses clever, unique, or unexpected language.
o Writing that inspires us.
o Writing that recognizes the power of creativity to impact the world.
o Writing that creates an equitable, just, and empowered world.
o A piece that adheres to the theme (some contests have a theme, while others are open ended).

We get a lot of questions about how to count the words. We have a strict word limit of 100 words or less, including the title. We use Microsoft Word for the official word count, which treats hyphenated words as one word. So the easiest thing would be to plunk your entry into Word right before submitting it to determine the accurate word count. Just be sure to omit any other info such as your name or the date.

We judge entries anonymously, but we ask for the following on our submission form:
o Your name (pen names are okay)
o Your email address (so we can contact you if you win!)
o Your country (so we can celebrate our diverse community)
o Your age (optional but always inspiring)

We may edit typos or make small corrections related to commas, spelling, and grammar. However, with poems, we typically assume that each choice was made intentionally so we are much less likely to assume a piece needs a correction unless the writer confirms that.

Our winners have been featured in the Poets & Writers Magazine and nominated for the Pushcart Prize.