The Stanley Ratteray Memorial Christmas Short Story Contest is under way.

The competition is open to Bermudians or residents of Bermuda and stories may be fiction or non-fiction. The deadline is December 11 at 5pm.

Cash prizes in the form of gift certificates will be presented in each of three categories — 13 and under, 18 and under, and Adult. The winner in each section will get $400 and the runner-up will receive $250. Third place will receive $125.

Stories should have a Bermuda focus. Judges look for vivid Christmas themes and local references and prefer entries from students to be free of violence, as Christmas is a time of peace.

Entries must be in Microsoft Word or in the body of an e-mail. They should not exceed 1,500 words and must be e-mailed to shortstory@royalgazette.com

Entries should be marked “Christmas Short Story Contest” and include the writer’s name, age, address and contact numbers.

Teachers, please ensure that the name and age of students, and contact numbers for their parents are included with every entry.

Judges may contact the winners during the evening. Contact details will be kept confidential. Pen names will not be accepted. Please, no poetry.

A panel will decide the winning entries that will appear in The Royal Gazette’s Christmas Greetings supplement on December 21.

Royal Gazette staff cannot respond to telephone or e-mail inquiries once an entry is submitted. The Royal Gazette reserves the right to publish any or all of the stories submitted.