Compassion & Choices is now accepting submissions for its first annual Storytelling Contest. The contest, designed to help Compassion & Choices share the stories of people from across the nation, kicks off in coordination with National Health Care Decisions Day, April 16, 2009. 

We invite submissions of up to 750 words that illustrate the various ways people share their end-of-life wishes with family, friends and physicians.

Click here to read a 736-word sample entry written by Kathryn Tucker, JD, Legal Affairs Director for Compassion & Choices.

The top 10 entries will be published on our Web site. The first-place winner will have their story published in the Summer 2009 issue of Compassion & Choices magazine, distributed to 25,000 households and 20,000 electronic subscribers. They will also receive a signed copy of Barbara Coombs Lee’s book, Compassion in Dying: Stories of Dignity & Choice.

Submissions should be sent via Word document or PDF to vnolten@compassionandchoices.org.

WRITING CONTEST GUIDELINES

Please follow these guidelines when submitting your entry:

• Submit a typewritten essay or story in a 12-point font. The entry must be no more than 750 words. 
• Provide a cover letter with the following information: Your name, address, phone number and email address.
• Entries must be mailed or emailed to Compassion & Choices and postmarked by June 1, 2009. 

The deadline for submission is June 1, 2009.
Winners will be notified by July 31, 2009.
All entries submitted to Storytelling Contest become property of Compassion & Choices.