Guidelines for the Inkwell Fiction Contest
Inkwell Short Fiction Contest 2025
Who can enter the contest?
You may enter the contest if you are an Inkwell member and live in China.
What is the theme?
Participants are required to submit an original piece of writing suitable on a given theme.
The theme of the contest is “It didn`t have to be this way”.
What are the rules of the contest?
The contest is run by Inkwell members and will begin on April 15th, 2025, and ends on July 15th, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. UTC+08:00, with six winners selected.
All entries must be original works by the entrant, in English. Plagiarism, which includes the use of third-party poetry, song lyrics, characters, or another person’s universe, without written permission, will result in disqualification. Short stories or novelettes generated or created by computer software and/or artificial intelligence will be disqualified. Entries may not have been previously published elswhere.
To be eligible, entries must be works of prose, up to 5,000 words in length. We regret we cannot consider poetry, or works intended for children.
All entries are final. No revisions are accepted.
Winners will be individually notified of the results by e-mail.
How should I format my entry?
Make sure your entry adheres to the following rules. Manuscripts that are single-spaced, or that otherwise don’t meet the following requirements will not be judged.
You must submit work electronically, in a single file in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format, written in 12-point font, Times New Roman, and double-spaced. The file should not contain images, photos, or multimedia.
Each entry must have a cover page with the title of the work, the author’s legal name, a pen name if applicable, an e-mail address and an approximate word count. Every subsequent page must carry the title and a page number in the upper right-hand corner of every page, but the author’s name must be deleted to facilitate fair, anonymous judging.
Can more than one person work on the same entry?
No, for this contest, each entry must have only one author.
How do I enter the contest?
Before you submit your entry:
- Double-check that you have adhered to all the instructions regarding entries.
- Don’t be late! The deadline for entries in the 2025 contest is July 15th, 2025.
- Eligible entrants can enter their work in the contest by emailing their stories to submissions@inkwell.asia
How are entries judged?
All entries are judged on the basis of content, originality, and quality of expression. Judges’ decisions are final. Judges do not critique entries. The judges select one winner for each of the categories: best plot, best style, best world building, best character arc, best use of theme, and “I don’t know why, but I liked it”.
Final judging may be based on the below criteria:
Plot and Characterization
- Keeps the readers interested with an engaging and well-organized story.
- Creates conflict, resolution, and character growth effectively.
- Maintains an effective pacing and presents interesting characters.
Creativity and Originality
- Tells an engaging and imaginative story.
- Has a unique plot, idea, or theme.
Language and Presentation
- Uses vocabulary words effectively.
- Writes in a consistent and engaging style.
- Uses a proper short story format.
- Uses correct grammar.
- Relevance to theme.
When/how are winners notified?
A list of winners will be posted online on Inkwell`s website by August 15th, 2025. Winners will also be notified by email.
What are the awards given?
The winning fiction pieces will be published online, and the winners will be given certificates.