Each Christmas, the Island Life section's gift to its readers is the Holiday Fiction Contest — a pair of stories written by readers, one for adults, one suitable for reading aloud to children, and both written in an uplifting mode.

Contest winners need not be on overtly holiday themes and need not concern Christmas 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 good smile — or even a belly laugh. They must be original works by the writer.

The stories will be published on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Island Life section, illustrated by our art department.

Contest rules: The word count limit is 1,500 words. Winners will be required to sign a contract granting The Advertiser the right to publish the story on paper or online. Manuscripts or e-mails must include name, address, daytime phone and e-mail address. For e-mails, place "Holiday Fiction Contest" in the subject line.

Send stories to: Holiday Fiction, Island Life, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; or to islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com.