CT Summer Story Project 2026 Application

Seeking CT public library staff who love to write!

Connecticut public library staff are encouraged to submit an original story to the CT SUMMER STORY PROJECT, a new initiative of the State Library in collaboration with CT Humanities. We encourage you to partner with local writing groups, youngsters, book clubs, etc. to create your special story. This competitive short story project will be released over summer 2026 – one chapter per week to celebrate summer reading and as a resource for library programming!

Applications are due NOVEMBER 17, 2025, and must be submitted electronically.

Writers will need to include:

• Story’s genre

• Brief synopsis of no more than 2,000 characters

• Preliminary thoughts on project art

• Writing sample of no more than 2,000 characters

Final stories should:

• Be based on your town (history, people, places that make your community unique)

• Target family readers / children with a 3rd to 6th grade reading and content level

• Include a nod/reference to the 2026 summer reading theme “Plant a Seed, Read”

• Be between 850 and 2,000 words 

• Be collaborative (librarians are encouraged to work with colleagues, writing groups, patrons, historians, and other local knowledge bearers)

• Be original, not previously published nor AI generated

PROJECT TIMELINE:

• Oct. 27, 2025- Application opens (submit summary / writing sample)

• Nov. 17, 2025- Application due

• Dec. 8, 2025- Selected libraries announced

• Jan. 20, 2026- Draft story due

• Mar. 30, 2026- Final story due

• Ap. 30, 2026- Story art due

The CT Summer Story Project team will review all submissions to select eight for the project. Selected applicants will be announced on December 8th.

Project promotion, bonus materials and activities will be released starting May 2026.

Questions? Reach out to one of the project coordinators: