It’s that time of year again — not when we snuggle around the open fire or get a little silly at the office holiday party, no. It’s time for aspiring John Grishams to dust off their typewriters (or more realistically, their computer keyboards) and get to writing their award-winning short story.

The 2010 Texas Bar Journal Short Story Fiction Writing Contest is officially on. The June 2010 issue of the Texas Bar Journal will feature the top three stories, as judged by our independent panel (it’s a blind judging, too, to make it more fair). Deadline for entries is March 1, 2010.

"How long does my story have to be?" you ask. Well, we know you like telling stories, but, it’s a short story contest, so keep it to 2,000 words or less.

You are pondering what you can write about, too, right? We’re pretty open to the topic, as long as your short story is previously unpublished and deals with or is related to the law or lawyers in some fashion.

"What if I have entered or won a previous year?" you wonder. That’s okay — go for win No. 2 or polish up last year’s story. We welcome all entries, as long as it’s from any lawyer licensed to practice in Texas who is in good standing. (We fibbed a little in that last sentence — directors of the State Bar or the Texas Bar Journal board of editors are ineligible.)

"How much time do I have?" you worry. No worries — the deadline is months away, next year in fact. Send those stories in by March 1, 2010, and you’ll be good.

For more information, download an entry form.

Oh yeah, in case you missed it, the deadline for entries is March 1, 2010.