This online writing contest is for both published and yet-to-be-published writers of all ages. The RULES are simple: use the "first line" we provide and keep your entry under 200 words. Where you go from there is up to you. Whether you write a humorous, sad, educational or even a horror story, is what will make your story uniquely yours! This is a flash fiction contest. Make sure your story has a beginning, a middle and an end. Your flash fiction story should contain other elements of fiction such as setting, character, conflict, and resolution. Check the RULES and submit your entry using the form on this page. Past winning entries are posted at the CCF Contest Entries page.

1. All stories must start with the first line provided.
2. No entry fee required.
3. Open to all ages, from elementary school students to senior citizens.
4. Open to both published and yet-to-be-published writers.
5. Word limit: 200 words or less. 
6. NO poetry or rhymed prose.
7. This is a flash fiction contest. It is NOT a vignette. It is NOT a scene or the introduction to a story. It is a complete story with a beginning, a middle and an end. It also should contain other elements of fiction such as setting, character, conflict, and resolution. Stories without an ending, without a clear resolution, will NOT be posted. [Check Paul Alan Fahey's article: 6 Steps to Writing Flash Fiction.]
8. CCF reserves the right to edit and/or not post entries it receives. Not all entries we receive get posted online.
9. Everyone who enters has a chance to win. The prize is seeing your entry posted to the CCF site.
10. It can take anywhere from three weeks to several months from the time you submit your story until you hear from us. If you do not hear from us after six months your story didn't make the cut.
11. By entering you allow us to post your entry and name on the CCF site, either as a single entry or as part of a collection of entries in an eBook.
12. You must include your name, city and state. You may also inlcude a link to your website, blog, or social network site.
13. Students under 18 must have their parent or guardian sign off on the entry form before submitting their entry.
14. You keep the copyright and CCF keeps first electronic rights for one month and the rights to archive the entries indefinitely and include them in an eBook anthology. You are free to submit your story to other venues a month after it's posted to the CCF site. If you need to submit it before the month is out, just drop us a note. We ask that, whenever possible, you mention it was first published on the http://www.childrencomefirst.com/ site. Also, if you post your story to your own website or blog, it'd be great if you linked back to the CCF contest pages.