Hi Friends, I’m inviting you to try your hand at writing a Valentine’s Day short story in 2000 words or less, and I’m offering some fun prizes for the top three winners! Here’s how it works: write a clean, inspiring, and romantic short story with a Valentine’s theme that is 2000 words or less and email it to me at carrie@turansky.com. You may use AI for brainstorming, spelling and grammar check, but not for the actual writing. I’ll read your story and send you an email reply. I’ll choose the top three as winners based on creativity, writing skill, and how it tugs my heart.
This writing contest is open to all unpublished and published authors. US and international writers are welcome to enter. I must receive your short story by midnight February 12, 2026. Winners will be notified by email, and their names will be posted on my blog on February 14th.
First Place Winner will receive a print copy of one of my novels – their choice – and they will have their short story published on my blog, announced in my newsletter and on social media.
Second Place and Third Place Winners will each receive a print copy of one of my novels – their choice. If any winner is an international author, they will receive an eBook rather than print.
For inspiration, you might like to read my award-winning one-thousand-word short story, Love on the 452. You’ll find it at this link. For more inspiration, romance, and family drama visit my book page to see all my books. Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Writing! I look forward to reading your short story!
Carrie
I appreciate this opportunity. Thank you, Carrie! Is it admissible to write a story that is a modified version of a short story that has been published in an anthology, or should I begin writing it from scratch? I plan to enter either way. This will be fun!
Hi Cindy, as long as you modify the story and it’s significantly different than the published version that would be fine. I’ll look forward to reading your submission.
Lovely short story, it warmed my heart on this chilly morning 🥰
Thank you, Lori!
Working on a story for you. Would you like it Times New Roman 12, and would you like it double spaced. How about a bio?
Hi Carolyn, I’m happy to hear you’re working on a story. Times New Roman 12, double spaced, with a short bio sounds great. I will look forward to reading your story.
Carrie, I loved ‘Love On The 452’! I used to write shirt stories, the romance type, years ago, in my teens, but never finished them. I haven’t written anything, of any type, for over 20 years.
Writing a Valentine’s Romance sounds like the challenge I need to start writing again.
Hi Eva, I hope you will write a story for us! I’d love to read it.
This sounds fun. Note to self, make time to do this.
I hope you’ll send me a story! I’d love to ready your writing.
I have written stories before about animals but nothing about romance. Challenging!
Hi Debra, I hope you’ll give it a try!
Hey Debra; How about a romance story about two animals.
Where do you order your books……………….No place could I find on this website. I would have ordered several books if I had found a place to order them…………….LKBoswell
Hi LK. Visit the book pages. Each one has links to purchase books. Start here. https://carrieturansky.com/books/