FutureScapes is holding a 2016 writing contest with a unique agenda; they’re looking for “stories that, when placed in the hands of a mayor or governor, could change the course of the future.”

The first place winner will receive $2,000; the second place winner will receive $1,000; and 4 runners-up will receive $500 each. All winners will be published in an anthology.

That’s a total of $5,000 in prize money being offered.

This year’s theme is “Cities of Empowerment,” and winning stories will indeed be distributed to mayors and governors.

According to their website:

“For this year’s theme, we ask you to envision how a city, thirty years from now, can create a civic experience which virtually eliminates what today we consider “disabilities.” Further, how might a future City of Empowerment amplify the natural abilities of citizens to enhance the experience of living, working, and governing a city? How might a city create the super-citizen of tomorrow?”

They’re looking for stories with concrete answers that explicitly focus on the details of the imagined future presented in the story. They want to “see the lived experience through the eyes of your characters.”

They’re explicitly looking for new writers. They do not accept submission from professionally published authors.

The stories should be no more than 8,000 words in length.

The deadline for submission is July 15, 2016. There is no entry fee. To learn more, read the contest guidelines.