Rules
- Entries must be original, unpublished works created solely by the submitting author.
- Stories must be written in English.
- Word count requirements: Minimum: 5,000 words; Maximum: 10,000 words
- Each submission must clearly indicate the genre category entered.
- Writers may submit to multiple categories; however:
Each submission must be a different story.
Separate entry forms must be completed for each submission.
- Entries must follow the assigned theme or mandatory prompt requirement for their chosen category.
- AI-generated or heavily AI-assisted submissions are not permitted. The work must represent the author’s original creative writing.
- Submissions containing plagiarism, copyrighted material without permission, or previously published content will be disqualified.
- Excessive graphic violence, hate speech, or explicit illegal content may result in disqualification at the judges’ discretion.
- The Top Ten entries from each category will be shortlisted for inclusion in a forthcoming anthology publication.
- All entries must be submitted before the published deadline. Late submissions will not be considered.
- Once submitted, entries cannot be edited or replaced unless requested by the competition administrators.
- The judges’ decisions are final.
Terms & Conditions
Eligibility
The competition is open internationally unless prohibited by local laws or regulations. Entrants under 18 years of age must have permission from a parent or legal guardian.
Originality
By entering the competition, participants confirm that:
- The submission is their own original work.
- The story does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or intellectual property rights.
- The work has not been previously published in print or digital form.
Rights & Permissions
Authors retain full copyright ownership of their work.
By submitting an entry, participants grant the competition organizers a non-exclusive right to:
- Read and evaluate the submission for judging purposes.
- Publish winning or shortlisted entries on the competition website, anthology, promotional material, or associated publications with full author credit.
- No additional commercial use will occur without the author’s permission.
Disqualification
The organizers reserve the right to disqualify entries that:
- Fail to meet word count requirements.
- Ignore mandatory prompts or themes.
- Include plagiarism or copyrighted material.
- Contain abusive, defamatory, or unlawful content.
- Violate submission guidelines.
Privacy
Personal information submitted during entry will be used solely for competition administration, communication, and winner announcements in accordance with applicable privacy laws.
Liability
The organizers are not responsible for:
- Technical issues affecting submissions.
- Lost, corrupted, or incomplete entries.
- Delays caused by internet or platform failures.
Amendments
The organizers reserve the right to amend competition rules, deadlines, or judging procedures where necessary. Any updates will be posted on the official competition website.