The weather's cooling off, students are returning to school, and here at The Write Practice, we're gearing up for our Fall Writing Contest. Because there's no better way to welcome the changing seasons than by writing some amazing stories!

Are you excited for the contest? We are! Read on to find out why.

Or, click here to get all the details and sign up for the Fall Writing Contest.

What We Love About Writing Contests

It’s no secret that we love writing contests here at The Write Practice. Here’s why:

A Fantastic Way to Grow

A writing contest challenges you to write a new story within certain parameters (word count, contest theme). Every time, it’s a challenge with a specific focus, stretching your writing skills in a new way. Plus, you have a deadline: you can’t tinker with your story forever; soon, you’ll have to submit it to the judges.

Writing short stories is one of our favorite ways to practice writing, and a contest gives you just the push you need to finish.

A Chance to Get Feedback

Of course, just writing a short story isn’t enough to grow. To deliberately practice writing and become a better writer, you need feedback to show you what’s working, what’s not, and how to improve.

Feedback is one of the best parts of our writing contests. In the exclusive Facebook group, writers share our ideas, brainstorm exciting twists, and troubleshoot when we get stuck. In Becoming Writer, we read each other’s stories and offer helpful and encouraging critique.

Plus, when the contest is over, we offer feedback directly from the judges on why your story won or didn’t. This expert critique is invaluable in taking your writing to the next level.

You Can Win Prizes

And who doesn’t love prizes?!

This contest, we’re offering over $1,200 in prizes. The grand prize winner will receive one year of free premium membership to Becoming Writer. Their story will be featured on the front page of Short Fiction Break, and they’ll be invited to become a monthly contributor to the literary magazine. Plus, they'll receive a cash prize of $300.

There are prizes for two runners-up, too, and five honorable mentions. Check those out here!

If you get stuck writing your story, these prizes might be just the push you need to keep going.

Everyone Gets Published

We love to celebrate good writing. You worked hard on your story, and we believe your writing deserves recognition.

That’s why we publish all the stories entered in the contest, not just the winners. We want to help great stories find great readers.

(If you would rather we not publish your story, you can opt out.)

Are You Ready to Join the Fun?

Are you ready to enter? Here’s how the contest will work.

Entrants are asked to write a new story up to 1,500 words long based on the contest theme: Monster.

You will then workshop your story within the Becoming Writer community, getting personalized feedback to help you make your story better.

After workshopping your story within the writing group, you can you submit your story to the contest.

Judges from Short Fiction Break will choose the eight winning stories.

Then, all submitted stories will be published on Short Fiction Break literary magazine.

What are you waiting for? Join us as we kick off the fall with an exciting writing contest. I can’t wait to see what you write!