The Weekend America story competition has ended. Nonetheless, we invite you to pitch a story.

Weekend America announces its Fall 2005 story competition for writers of all stripes, storytellers and independent radio producers whose work has not been previously broadcast nationally.

The Story Competition's theme is "Your Local Unsung Celebrity."

Weekend America broadcasts each Saturday on 140 public radio stations, sharing stories about Americans - what we're doing, how we're living and the ways in which we react to world events.

Enter the competition by sending Weekend America a short description or story pitch (no longer than 120 words) that can be produced as a 3 minute radio profile of your town's local character — a teacher, the shoeshine guy, the clerk at your favorite video store, your grandmother or anyone that you believe the rest of America should hear about.

Weekend America is looking for stories richly told, that convey real human emotion or personality. Your story should have an arc, with a beginning, middle, end and even include an element of surprise.

Weekend America will choose 3 stories on the theme of local unsung celebrities to be produced with a Weekend America editor. The 3 writers whose stories are told and who commit to produce them will be paid $500 for their stories. Producers whose stories are produced by them and broadcast will be paid an additional $500.