Creative Communities - BC Library Conference 2015

In 2013 the Powell River Public Library launched a microfiction contest based on the book 420 Characters by author and artist Lou Beach. The challenge: to pack vivid descriptions, original characters and surprising plot twists into a narrative small enough to fit in a Facebook status update. The result: a literal deluge of story submissions. Some were fictional, others not. They were written by seniors, teens, and everyone in-between. The Library brought the contest back in 2014 by popular demand.   This session is all about the nuts and bolts of running a successful microfiction contest. You’ll get a practical breakdown for how to run your own contest – from advertising to judging to hosting a reading to sharing the results online. You’ll also pick up some tips on how to find strong visuals, harness social media teasers, and respond to creative spin offs and opportunities as they arise. Using tiny stories as an example, we’ll discuss creative programs as a form of activism, advocacy and the key to lifelong learning.