Reading Adventures for Youth and Adults

July 1-31, 2025

Fairfax County Public Library and the Fairfax Library Foundation invites school-age youth (grades 3-6), teens (grades 7-12) and adults (18+) to participate in our third annual "The World We Write" short story writing contest. Use one of the prompts to write a 250-word story.

Stories should be submitted online. Winners will be notified by August 22. 

Writing Prompts

1. It all started when he regifted his great-aunt's fruit cake.
2. The kingdom was like a quilt.
3. A singer finds inspiration in a surprising place.
4. Green is the scariest color.
5. She stepped into the ballot box for the first time, and saw...

Award

Three winners from each age group (grades 3rd - 6th, grades 7th-12th and adults) will receive a $25 gift card and a certificate signed by Eric Carzon, our Library Director, and Lisa Bryant, Executive Director for the Fairfax Library Foundation. We will feature these short stories on our website. 

 Rules and Guidelines 

1. Participants in 3rd-12th grade or adults who live, study or work in Fairfax County are eligible for the contest.
2. One story per person is permitted.
3. Stories must have a title.
4. Stories cannot exceed 250 words and the font has to be Aptos, Times New Roman, Cambria or Calibri, font size 12, double-spaced.
5. Stories must be uploaded as a PDF or Word document.
6.  Stories will be judged on:
   • Creative Expression: Is your story original? Does it have an identifiable conflict? Does your story engage the reader? 
   • Storytelling: Is your story well organized? Does it have a strong sense of tone and theme?
   • Technical Aspects: Do your word choices enhance the story? Is your sentence structure varied and purposeful?  
7. Stories should be submitted through our online submissions form.

Writers are not reimbursed for submittals.
Writers own the rights to their work.

Cosponsored by the Fairfax Library Foundation

June 11 - August 17, 2025

Create your own unique recipe for FCPL's Teen Chopped Challenge! Use our three mystery ingredients to make something fun and delicious. A limited quantity of ingredient kits will be available at select library branches. This competition is for ages 12-18. 

The mystery ingredients this year are:

Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix

Dole Pineapple Tidbits

Honey

Kits will be available at:

• Centreville Regional

• Chantilly Regional (Out of Kits)  

• George Mason Regional 

• Pohick Regional 

• Sherwood Regional 

To enter the contest:

1. Pick up a limited supply of mystery ingredient kit from one of 5 participating library branches beginning June 11. 

2. Create an original recipe using all of the mystery ingredients.

3. Take a photo of your completed dish.

4. Complete the online submissions form (available on June 16) or return your completed recipe  to your local library branch by August 17.

5. If you are bringing your completed recipe  to your local library branch, send the photo of your dish to robert.solka@faifaxcounty.gov. No links to Google files, please. JPEG, PNG, or PDF attachments only.

Winners will receive:

• First Place: a Teen Chopped logo apron and a $40 Whole Foods gift card
• Second Place: $25 Whole Foods gift card
• Third Place: $15 Whole Foods gift card 

Teen Chopped Presents: A Cooking Basics Workshop 

With Professional Chef Beck Wolff of Becky's Pixie Kitchen 

Kings Park Library, July 2, 3:00 p.m.-5::00 p.m. 

Through this class, we focus on empowering motivated teens to take charge of what they eat on a daily and weekly basis. We provide instruction that will support teens in the kitchen, helping to build cooking skills to promote their independence and confidence that goes beyond just using a microwave. They get to prepare one delicious meal with their own hands.