It's been famously said there's no trick to writing: Just sit down and open up a vein.

Well, get the the sharp instrument of your mind ready because it's time again for The Advertiser Island Life section's Holiday Fiction Contest, in which local writers receive cash awards for their best stories in two categories: adult, and read-aloud for children. Winners will also see their work published and illustrated in The Advertiser: the adult winner on Christmas Eve and the children's division winner on Christmas Day. And an audio version of the children's division winner will be posted online.

The contest will be judged by Frank Stewart, editor of Manoa: A Pacific Journal of International Writing, and Shelly Mecum, author of "The Watercolor Cat," with artist Peggy Chun and "God's Photo Album."

Though they are published at Christmas, contest entries need not be on overtly holiday themes and need not concern any holiday in particular. But they are meant to provoke thought and feeling, engender hope, convey the strength of the human spirit or give us all a smile — or even a belly laugh.

The winners in each of the two categories will receive $200.

We've gathered last year's winners and posted them online, so prospective entrants can see what's worked with judges in the past. You can also hear books editor Wanda Adams read Sue Cowing's winning story, "John Boy's Christmas Zoo," (above).