For a fifth year, Delta-based writer/ storyteller Laura Thomas is running a province-wide summer writing contest for aspiring young authors.

The contest is free to enter and open to any B.C. resident between the ages of 10 and 17. There is also a special incentive category for kids ages six to nine.

Last summer, 80 stories were submitted from 16 municipalities across the province.

"We did well in 2011, but I'm hoping that this summer we will attract even more of those young storytellers out there who have been inspired by TV, movies, games and websites to get creative and show their stuff," said Thomas, who lives in Ladner.

As in previous years, Thomas is sticking to her rule of keeping the subject matter of the stories open and letting contestants decide what they want to write about.

"It's always best to write about those things in life that make you feel something," she said. "It makes the hard work of crafting a well-told story easier when you love your characters and story problem."

With the help of sponsors such as her mother (Ricki Willing of Sutton Seafair Realty), Thomas is able to keep the contest free to enter.

The contest is open now and closes Aug. 31. Entries can be mailed to JA Short Story Contest, c/o South Delta Recreation Centre, 1720 56th St., Delta, B.C., V4L 2B1. Winners will be announced in September. Complete details, contest rules and past winning stories are online at www. laurathomascommunications.com.