Creative Storytelling Invitational 2026
1st Annual Creative Storytelling Invitational
An Intergenerational Storytelling Project Promoting the Creative Arts
“What happens when different dimensions of space and time start to collide into each other like a cosmic waterfall? The universe is in constant change.”
–James Yale
(click to zoom)
As we begin the third year of the James Yale Legacy Project in the Year of the Fire Horse, the painting Rayaak was chosen as the subject for the First Annual Creative Story Telling Invitational.
The James Yale Legacy Project invites you to enter the world of James Yale’s painting Rayaak through an essay, short story, song lyrics, poem, screen play, or graphic novel. The works will be evaluated on originality and personal authenticity by a panel to be announced later. There will be three cash prizes, with prints of Rayaak awarded to the top six entries.
James was a self taught artist, earning his craft as a master painter through his deep study of Nature, his value of human connection, and deep respect for life in the Ozarks. We ask that you draw from your own human story and imagination to inhabit the world of Rayaak. The painting of Rayaak offers a journey of wonder where Magic and familiar reality mix. What story will you tell when you enter the painting of Rayaak? James’ work is grounded in an authentic experience, inviting you to honor the human spirit and use only yourself as a source.
Interpretations of Rayaak can be an Essay, Poem, a Graphic Novel, Song Lyrics, or a Screen Play.
- Essays and Poems- limited to 500 words
- Graphic Novels- 3 pages max
- Screen Play- sample preliminary pitch with an opening scene
- Song Lyrics- written, or submitted in spoken word, or performed to music- uploaded as an audio file MP4, or as a video file shared on the streaming service of your choice (such as vimeo). All songs 3 minutes max.
With the focus of human storytelling, we ask you to not use AI language models
Awards for authenticity:
$ 500 first prize
$ 250 second prize
$ 100 third prize
Top three awardees and three finalists will receive a print of Rayaak.
*All finalists will be invited to perform at The Medium
How to Submit your entry
Visit Jamesyale.com for the First Annual Creative storytelling Invitational
Content can be sent in a PDF, Word File, Text file
Submissions begin on April 1st through August 1st, 2026.
Winners will be announced on August 18, 2026
James Yale, The Lost Artist of the Ozarks
“It is the element of nature that are central to Yale’s life and surroundings that inspire and reverberate in many of his paintings. They are captured moments that can take you to another place– a parallel reality without leaving the familiar surroundings of nature’s beauty as manifested in the Arkansas woods.”