Happy summer, F. Scott Fitzgerald fans! In this newsletter, we will share information about the Short Story Contests, news regarding a former winner of the Short Story Contest, and an exciting new sticker for members of the festival.
Thank You to All Entrants to the Short Story Contests
Thank you to all who entered our Short Story Contests for adults and students. The submission window closed on June 30, 2026.
The submitted stories have been handed over to the judges for consideration. Please be patient, as it will take the judges time to read all of the stories and make their final decisions. Winners will be announced by September 15, 2026.
Our 2026 Short Story Readings event will be at 6:30 pm on Thursday, October 8 at Rockville Memorial Library. This event is free and open to the public. The winners of the Short Story Contest will be honored, and they will read their work. We hope you can make it to this event! Learn more about this event here.
News About a Former Winner of the Short Story Contest
Many of the winners of our past Short Story Contests have gone on to accomplish exciting things in the world of writing and publishing. In 2022, William W. Campbell won first place in the adult contest. Campbell is a neurologist, retired US Army colonel, artist, and philanthropist. He has published both creative writing and scientific and medical writing.
Campbell’s newest book, Soldier for the Union, was published on July 7, 2026. It’s about a Civil War surgeon who discovers a soldier with a secret. Based on true accounts, Soldier for the Union is a historical novel about the secret heroism of the women who fought, disguised as men, on the blood-soaked front lines of the American Civil War. Learn more about the book and where to purchase it here.
Congrats to William W. Campbell on the publication of his new book, and congrats to all former winners, finalists, and honorable mentions of our Short Story Contests!
*NEW* I READ BANNED BOOKS Sticker for Members!
Did you know? You can become a member of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Festival. Becoming a member has many benefits. Your generous funding helps us put on all of our literary programming throughout the year and directly benefits the reading and writing community of the Washington, DC, metro area. We are a 503(c)(3) organization, so membership fees and donations are tax deductible.
You can become a member for as little as $35, or $30 for seniors. We also offer additional membership tiers for those who can give more.
We offer several perks to members, including free entry into the Short Story Contest for adults, which is a perk for all members. Members at the $100 level and up get a signed copy of a book by the honoree of this year’s festival: Tobias Wolff is the honoree of 2026. Members at higher tiers can advertise on our website.
Starting as of now, all members will also receive an I READ BANNED BOOKS sticker that looks like this:
This is a vinyl, waterproof sticker that can be proudly displayed on your car, laptop, luggage, or anywhere you wish.
Let’s show our support for banned books together!
This sticker is NOT for sale. The only way you can get this sticker is by becoming a member of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Festival at the $35 level or higher ($30 for seniors).
Click here to visit the Membership page and become a member today!
If you are a current member of the festival, or if you become a member in the future, your sticker will be mailed to your address on file. Please be patient and allow 6-8 weeks for your sticker to arrive. We are a small operation, but rest assured that you will receive your sticker before long! If you do not receive your sticker within 8 weeks, please contact us.
Please note that membership is determined year by year. Our year restarts after our annual festival at the end of October. Anyone who has become a paid member since November 2025 is a current member and will be mailed a sticker. If you are not sure whether you are a current member, feel free to contact us.
Keep reading those banned books, friends!
