Fall Writing Contest

This fall, The Write Practice is partnering with Short Fiction Break literary magazine to host a writing contest in which everyone gets published!

Learn more

Registration is now closed.

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Writing Contest Guidelines

Open to writers of all kinds to write a new story based on our contest theme, workshop it in our writing community, and submit it for publication in Short Fiction Break literary magazine.

All writers who participate may be published if they choose.*

Maximum length: 1,500 words.

Contest theme: Haunted.

Enrollment deadline: To participate, you must enroll for the contest by Thursday, September 29. Your story will be due for workshopping on Monday, October 3. Your final submission is due Monday, October 10.

I've never participated in a writing contest quite like this before. Getting feedback from other contestants is amazing and fosters a feeling of community and camaraderie rather than competition, and I can tell the focus is on learning and becoming better writers rather than on winning. It's great!

Rachel

For the first time in a long time, I felt confident in something I wrote and the editing of it due to the workshopping of my work.

I feel like this contest gave me the full writer's experience of writing the story, giving and receiving feedback, and editing my work according to that very helpful, informative, and constructive feedback. Thank you for making one of my writing experiences so lovely.

Anthony

Over $1,400 Prizes, PLUS Publication for Every Writer

The panel of judges will select one grand prize winning story, two runners-up, and five honorable mentions. These winners will receive:

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

The grand prize winning story will be featured on the front page of Short Fiction Break.

They’ll receive one year of free Classes Tier membership to The Write Practice, normally $588, as well as a cash prize of $300.

This prize is valued at $888.

TWO RUNNERS-UP

Two runners-up will have their stories featured on the front page of Short Fiction Break. They will also receive a cash prize of $100 each, and one year of free Feedback tier membership to The Write Practice Pro, normally $180.

This prize is valued at $280 each.

FIVE HONORABLE MENTIONS

The honorable mentions will have their stories featured on the front page of Short Fiction Break.

ALL SUBMISSIONS CAN GET PUBLISHED

Every writer who submits a story to this contest will be published by Short Fiction Break.*

Winners will be announced 4 to 8 weeks after the judging deadline.

*Authors who do not wish to be published may opt out.

READERS' CHOICE AWARD

Those who choose to have their stories published will be entered for the Readers’ Choice Award. Readers and fellow contest participants will have a week to vote for their favorite story, and the winner will be featured on the front page of Short Fiction Break.

The BEST Way to Get Feedback on Your Writing

The best writers in the world get feedback.

They’re surrounded by editors. Close-knit communities of other best-selling writers. Readers who write passionate reviews on Amazon.

And if YOU are going to write stories readers love, then you need feedback, too.

Even if you don’t have an editor. Or a writing group. Or raving fans reading every word you write. (Yet!)

How do you get that feedback?

You could pay thousands of dollars for expert editing. (Worth it, but not always in the budget.)

You could ask your friends and family what they think of your writing. (Though they’ll probably say it’s great because they’re nice.)

Or . . .

Enter the writing contest for insightful feedback at the best price.

Publication (guaranteed!) is exciting. The chance to win a prize is thrilling.

But the best part of this contest is the feedback you'll get.

We've created two ways for you to get personalized feedback in this contest. Select one or both when you enter. Then use the feedback you get to write and edit an amazing story!

Peer Feedback from Writers

Write a first draft of your story. Then, share it in The Write Practice Pro, our premium workshop community.

There, passionate, supportive, and insightful writers will give you helpful feedback.

You'll have one week to edit your story based on that feedback. You can even share your story again for more feedback before you submit it to the judges!

This contest isn't just about winning. It's about helping you grow as a writer. All stories must be workshopped in order to qualify for a prize.

Expert Feedback from Judges

Want even more feedback? Choose “Premium Entry” when you join the contest.

Then, after the winners are announced, you’ll also get a personalized, professional critique . . .

. . . directly from the judges themselves.

That’s right: a judge on our panel of expert editors and authors will show you exactly why they did or didn’t choose your story as the winner.

You'll get personalized feedback from professional authors and editors at a tiny fraction of the price of hiring an editor for your novel!

This is exactly what I needed.

1500 words is perfect—I couldn't talk myself out of being able to write that in plenty of time, regardless of other commitments.

The feedback is built-in and compulsory which my shy beginner self needed. I like the support of the community with the comfort of some level of anonymity.

The price was just enough to be a commitment but nowhere near being a barrier. The deadlines are spaced exactly right from the announcement to the workshop to the final.

I never would have written a short story if it weren't for this contest. It's the perfect practice for me right now. Thank you. You're a genius.

Carlene

I am addicted!

I love reality shows where the talent gets coached and gets better with every episode. This contest is like that. I love seeing the raw material being molded into complete pieces of art!

I am also loving the feedback. All of it has been constructive and encouraging. I like how I can click on an author's name and see all the revisions they've posted so I can follow my favorite stories.

Win or lose, this contest was more than worth it. Thank you!

Rebekah

Bonuses!

Participants in this contest get three bonus eBooks worth $30, including our guide How to Win a Writing Contest and the bestselling book on writing short stories, Let's Write a Short Story.

What Other Writers Are Saying About Our Writing Contests

My writing improved faster in one week than a whole year’s worth of studying

Loretta

The feedback from the judges was great. It was the kind of feedback I crave and can't get from family or friends.

William

Just to have my work published somewhere, and to be able to point people to it is great for me as a writer.

Michelle

I am in awe of the help other writers (in the same competition) give each other. It feels nice to witness people's kindness and generosity firsthand.

Safiya

It made me step out of my comfort zone to share [my writing] with strangers. I was able to tackle many of my fears holding me back as a writer. I learned so much!

Joanna

I'm addicted to writing contests now!

Amanda

I’m so glad I chose to enter the contest! Has been the best learning experience. We all need a safe place to get feedback and this contest provided that. I’m forever grateful and glad of the experience.

AP

I just wish I had a contest deadline all the time!

Laura

The best part of this contest is that not only do I get to better my craft, but I get to learn from others and help them do the same. How wonderfully unique!

Sydney

I enjoy the motivation to write more. The short story is a great way to rekindle my creative fire.

Arthur

It has been a phenomenal experience for me…. I have learned more than I will be able to digest anytime soon.

Nathan

It was the first time entering but it won't be the last.

Linda

This contest was a tremendous boost for me…. I gained so much from the critiques others had of my work. But the greatest gain was in being able to read the work of others and to learn the power of editing and rewriting.

Robert

It was the motivation I needed to write something other than emails. Thanks!

Bill

I am writing! And I feel that you care about me and my writing. You have motivated me, provided structure and provided support. This is fun, rewarding, and challenging, and I am not alone.

Linda

Though I didn't officially win the contest, I'm a winner because my writing improves each time I enter a contest.

Jodi

It has given me a sense of belonging to a community of writers.

Rashed

I was in a creative rut for some time before hearing about the contest and being part of this pushed me to break out of it.

Tiffany

I’ve been looking for someone to take my hand and tell me “it’s ok to not know what you’re doing. I’ll help you.” Thank you for coming into my life.

Aaba

I’ve always been nervous to share [my writing]. This contest has provided a community where missing the mark is okay, where we can help each other revise and rewrite until we are all happy with the finished product.

Lexie

This Contest Is Now Closed

The writing contest is closed. But don't worry! We host new writing contests all the time.

Find new writing contests

Full Contest Rules

Want to know all the details? Here's how the writing contest will work:

Write a new story based on the contest theme: Haunted.
Join the Write Practice Pro community. All entrants get six weeks access to the Write Practice Pro community, where you'll be able to workshop your piece for the writing contest and join a supportive, encouraging community of fellow writers.
Finish your story. This isn't just a writing contest. We want to give you accountability to write something new. We'll give you the support you need to write a new story of up to 1,500 words.
Workshop your story. After you finish your story, get valuable feedback from other members of the Write Practice Pro community. Then, edit your story so that it's the best it can be.
Submit your story to the judges. After your story is workshopped, you can submit the final draft to the judges, who will review your story for publication.
Get published! Every writer who enters has the option of getting published by Short Fiction Break. Whether the judges select your piece or not, you'll get the exposure your writing deserves.
Get feedback from the judges! If you choose the premium entry, you'll also get personalized feedback about why your story was or wasn't selected by the judges.
Celebrate the winners. The judges will choose several winning stories. These top stories will get featured publication and cash prizes, as well as be publicized to The Write Practice's community of readers.

Enrollment for participation in the contest is only open until Thursday, September 29 at 11:59 pm PT and your story is due for workshopping Monday, October 3. Your final submission is due Monday, October 10. The sooner you enroll, the more time you have to write a better story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I don't have a short story ready to enter?

That’s perfect! In this contest, you’ll write a brand-new story based on the contest theme.

As soon as you enter the contest, you’ll start writing the first draft of your story.

Then, you’ll share your rough draft in the writing workshop. There, other writers in the contest will give you feedback to help you win.

You'll have a week to edit your story based on the feedback you receive. You can even share your story again for more feedback before you submit it to the judges!

What if I’ve never written a short story before?

This contest is the perfect place to write your first short story!

When you enter the contest, we’ll send you our best resources on how to write a short story. You’ll get step-by-step guides, plus common problems and how to solve them.

You’ll write your first draft. Then, you’ll have a week to edit your story based on feedback from other writers before you submit it to the judges.

It’s like a mini-writing course in just a few days!

What if my story doesn't win? Is this contest still worth it?

Absolutely. If you enter the contest and submit your story, you might win a prize from the judges.

But you’ll definitely gain these “wins”:

You’ll get insightful feedback from other writers.
You’ll get expert feedback from professional authors and editors (choose “Premium Entry” when you join!).
You’ll feel creatively invigorated and motivated to keep writing.
You’ll FINISH a story you love.
Your story will be published!

You’ll finish the contest a winner, no matter which story the judges choose!

How much time do I need in order to enter the writing contest?

Busy life? You're not alone. And this is the perfect writing project for busy writers for two reasons:

First, short stories are short! You can write a first draft of your story in under an hour.

Second, the deadline is quick. Depending on when you join, you'll have no more than a couple of weeks to write and revise your story.

You can write and edit a great short story in about five hours. Work on it over a couple of weekends. Or write for half an hour each day. Then, submit by the deadline, and you're done!

There’s no easier way to make writing a part of your busy life!

Will the contest feedback help me?

Yes! In fact, writers tell us that the feedback is the best part of this contest.

Everyone who enters will get feedback from other writers during the workshop portion of the contest.

Want more feedback? Choose “Premium Entry” when you join. After the contest, a judge will write you personalized feedback on why your story was or wasn't chosen as a winner.

Here's what writers have to say about contest feedback:

“The feedback from the judges was great. It was the kind of feedback I crave and can't get from family or friends.”

“I love the feedback I get from other writers of different skill levels. It really helps me gauge to see where I'm improving and what I still need to work on.”

“[The workshop] feedback is invaluable, but the judges feedback is the crown jewel of the whole thing.”

“The feedback system is absolutely amazing. . . . Sometimes I don't realize how much I've grown as a writer until I give feedback and receive feedback in return.”

When will the winners be announced?

The winners will be announced on October 31, just in time for Halloween!

When will I receive feedback from the judges?

After the judges select the contest winners, they'll begin writing feedback for all premium entries. We receive hundreds of submissions, and it will take the judges a few weeks to write personalized feedback for each one.

Feedback will be delivered at the end of November.

This Contest Is Closed