You Can Ask LeVard Burton to Read Your Work on His Podcast
Here at Lifehacker, we’ve been pretty clear about our position on LeVar Burton and his LeVar Burton Reads podcast: we are grateful and appreciate both of them. Back in 2019, former Lifehacker staff writer Nick Douglas selected the two-part episode in which LeVar reads “The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate” ( Part 1 , Part 2 ) as his pick for the best podcast episode of the year .
Then, a few months later (now it seems like a lifetime), in April 2020, Lifehacker managing editor Megan Moravchik Walbert wrote a post titled “LeVar Burton Will Read Us, Thank God,” in response to an announcement that he was reading stories in live on Twitter three times a week. If we ever needed a soothing, reassuring voice, it is then. (And also now and all the time in between.)
We are now back with other good news: From now until the end of this month, you have the opportunity to submit your own theoretical stories to LeVar to read on the podcast. Here’s what you need to know.
LeVar Burton Reads Essay Competition
In collaboration with the literary magazine FIYAH and Tor.com, the LeVar Burton Reads podcast is currently hosting its first writing competition, and Burton will read the winning science fiction / horror story in the tenth season of the podcast.
Here’s some more from Burton himself in a statement on the podcast website :
For a couple of seasons now, we’ve been trying to figure out how to run a story contest with all the material coming from the podcast listeners. I’m happy to announce that we finally hacked the code! It gives me great pleasure to announce the opening of the LeVard Burton Short Story Essay Competition. #bydhttmwfi
Competition prizes:
- First Prize : $ 500, publish your story on Tor.com, and have LeVar read your story on his podcast (estimated retail value: priceless).
- Second Prize : $ 250, publish your story on Tor.com.
- Third Prize: $ 100, publish your story on Tor.com.
Submission rules and other rules
But before you start, you should take the time to familiarize yourself with the competition guidelines and rules . The theme is “Origins and Encounters,” and the judges “are interested in stories that explore the magical joys and tragic pitfalls of mixed civilizations and cultural exchanges in all their forms.”
The information provided is fairly detailed, so please use it including instructions on how to properly format your application.
Other guidelines include:
- Submissions should be between 2,800 and 5,200 words.
- Submissions must include speculative or fantastic elements. Indigenous writings on fantasy, otherworldly, and alternative stories are encouraged.
- Sexually explicit entries or scenes of violence / bloodshed are not eligible for this competition.
- Simultaneous submissions, reprints, fanfiction or excerpts from longer works will not be considered.
- The materials must be in prose. Poetry, scripts and scripts are not considered.
Finally, a word from FIYAH :
Although FIYAH is a limited access demographic publication, this competition is open to everyone . We highly recommend listening to the previous episodes of the podcast to get a taste of LeVard’s tastes.
How to submit your story
After you finish your story, fill out this form to send it along with your name, email address, and a 500-word CV or less telling the judges about yourself and your work.
All entries must be received by 11:59 pm ET on August 31, 2021. The judges for the competition include Diana M. Fo and L.D. Lewis, and the final choice will be made by LeVar himself. The winner will be announced on October 15, 2021.
Good luck, see you next time.