Each Christmas, Island Life's gift to its readers is the Holiday Fiction Contest — a pair of stories written by readers — one for adults, one suitable for reading aloud to children — and both written in an uplifting mode.

Contest winners need not be on overtly holiday themes and need not concern Christmas in particular. But they are meant to provoke thought and feeling, engender hope, convey the strength of the human spirit or give us all a good smile — or even a belly laugh.

The winners in each category will receive some post-Christmas spending money and the stories will be published on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Island Life section, illustrated by our art department.

Contest rules:

The word count limit is 1,500 words.

Stories — fictional or fact-based — must be the author's own work.

Winners will be required to sign a fee-for-service contract attesting to that fact and granting The Advertiser the right to publish the story and place it online.

Entries in verse are acceptable. Illustrations will not be considered.

Judges' decision is final.

Employees of The Honolulu Advertiser may not enter.

Manuscripts or e-mails must include: name, address, daytime telephone, e-mail address. No pen names, please.

Manuscripts or e-mails must be labeled adult or children's.

Deadline:

Postmarked or e-mailed on or before Nov. 31.

Send stories to: Holiday Fiction, Island Life, Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com.