Writing Challenges
Fantasy Short Story Your next story is waiting to be told.
What are you waiting for?
What is a short story writing challenge?
A writing challenge is as a simple as that: it’s meant to challenge you in your writing. That means that you’ll have a set number of days to write a brand new short story that goes along with the theme of the challenge. All we will give you are a couple prompts & elements that you’ll need to include in your story, and the rest is up to you!
Our writing challenges are made specifically for fantasy writers of all skill-levels and expertise. This way, you get to participate in a challenge where you can write what you love to write the most: fantastical, magical worlds full of mythical creatures, enemies-to-lovers, and so much more.
Do I need to be a serious writer to join?
Absolutely not!
While we welcome established and practiced storytellers to join this challenge, it is just as suitable for someone who is brand-spankin’-new to writing. This challenge is meant to open your mind, get the creative juices flowing, and inspire you to explore your expression through writing.
How a challenge works
-
REGISTER
Sometimes this is the hardest step. Overcoming imposter syndrome, giving into the fear that you aren’t a “serious” enough writer. If you make it this far, congrats. We’re so happy you’re here.
-
3 PROMPTS
When the challenge starts, you will receive instructions that include secret prompts. You’ll not only need to write a short story in 10 days, but you’ll need to make sure your story includes all 3 prompts and the chosen theme.
-
WRITE! EDIT! SUBMIT!
You have 10 days to let you imagination run wild and your creativity shine! Join us in 2 write-ins via Zoom for some accountability.
-
WAIT
We take it back, THIS is the hardest part. It can take up to 3 months for our judges to undergo 3 different rounds of review. Trust us, it’s worth the wait.
-
RECEIVE FEEDBACK
The wait is over! Winners will be announced within 3 months and feedback will be delivered within 1 week after the winners announcement.
What you get when you join a challenge
-
Before each challenge, we host a creative writing workshop exclusive to the challenge participants. You’ll experiment with some fun writing prompts and get a chance to meet some fellow writers in the process!
-
Throughout the challenge, we host a couple write-ins. This is ‘write-along’ time. We meet in a Zoom call, set the timer, and get hammering away on your stories.
-
Once you register, you’ll be added to an exclusive challenge writing group hosted in Mighty Networks. Here, you can get some inspiration and maybe even find an accountability buddy or two.
-
Whether your story places in the top 10 or not, our reviews will be working hard to provide you with encouraging yet constructive developmental feedback.
The Judging Criteria:These are the categories that make up our standard rubric. Every story is reviewed using the same rubric.
Structure + Pacing
Does it flow? Does it feel like a short story rather than an excerpt of a novel?
Stakes + Conflict
Make us care about something. Without stakes, what’s even the point?
Character Dev
We want to be able to distinguish one character from another. A short story isn’t a lot of space for an entire dynamic character arc. But was there some kind of shift from beginning to end?
Voice + Prose
This doesn’t mean your story has to have the most beautiful flowery language. We’re looking for voice and prose that are fitting for the context of the story.
Dialogue
If your story doesn’t use dialogue, don’t sweat it! Our reviewers will assess how well the story works without dialogue in it.
Immersion + Imagery
Can we picture it? Can we feel it? We want to be immersed in your story + world.
Worldbuilding
A tricky one to hit the sweet spot of too much // too little. Try not to overwhelm your readers with backstory and context, but give us enough to understand where we are and what’s going on.
Prompts + Theme
Don’t skimp here! This is a HUGE part of the challenge and the rubric. Your story should include all three prompts and the theme.
Integration + Originality of Prompts + theme
This is where we judge the USE of the prompts and theme. We’re looking for prompts and theme to be use integrally in the story. These should be load-bearing.
Formatting
This one is simple: did you follow the rules? Follow the checklist when you submit and you shouldn’t run into any issues.
Don’t just take our word for it…
These challenges are for you if you…
Love fantasy, folklore, or mythology and have also wanted to try your hand at writing it
Are in a creative rut and need some help getting out of it
Want to challenge yourself, push yourself out of your comfort zone
Are a seasoned writer and want a break from your current WIP
Want to remember what’s it is like to just have fun with writing
Need something to help inspire your next writing project
Want to make more writer friends
Simply like being creative and trying new things
See what our past writers are saying:
-
“I love these writing challenges! They help so much with incorporating idea's I would have never though would fit!”
-
“I was nervous to enter this contest, but it really helped get me out of a writers block and I even finished my manuscript shortly after!"
-
"I loved that every entry received feedback on their stories and I’ll definitely be entering again!”"
-
“I really loved participating in this writing challenge! The feedback was super helpful both times I participated. I’m able to apply the feedback to improve my writing."
-
“This challenge provided a great opportunity to push myself and let other people read my writing for the first time!"
-
“This was fun, scary, thrilling, and regardless of the outcome; extremely validating to get feedback on something I wrote."
How the Review Process Works
Round 1
1
In the first round of review, your story will go to our reading team that is full of teachers, editors, fantasy enthusiasts, and writing professionals. Each story is read and reviewed in a set of 20 stories and will be scored by multiple readers.
Round 2
2
The top stories from each set are sent to the 2nd round of review, where the stories will go through a similar review process with different members of our reading team. Each story is read and reviewed in a set of 20 stories and is scored by multiple readers.
Final Round
3
The top stories from round 2 will move to the final round that is read, scored, and reviewed by members of our review team and final guest judge panel. After this, the final ranking is determined!
Feedback
4
Feedback will be provided to all writers and will be written by a member of our reviewer team. You will receive feedback from one reviewer in each round your story advances to. Feedback will be sent approximately one week after winners are announced, and you will have access to it for one month.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Short story challenges are PERFECT for new authors. Not only do they inspire you to actually get those words out of your head and onto the paper, but they push you out of your comfort zone — something that is invaluable to new writers.
Our challenges are designed so that writers in all stages can get inspired, trying something new, and make some new friends in the process.
-
Within one week of winners being announced.
Our team goes through each piece of feedback for quality assurance purposes. Please be patient with us while we review your feedback before sending it your way.
-
You will be able to access your feedback for 1 month after it is sent out.
-
If you have questions regarding prompts, formatting, guidelines, and how to submit, please wait until you receive a more detailed email at the challenge start time. All questions will be answered at that time.
For all other questions, please email us at challenge@woodlandwriters.com
If you have already registered, please include your “submission number” in the subject line.
Please do not message us through the Award Force platform or Instagram with your questions.
-
Your registration fee goes toward:
Award Force platform to run the challenge
Cash prize pool
Compensating our review team for three rounds of review
Running Woodland Writers
-
Online! You can write from the comfort of your own home or your favorite coffee shop. As long as you turn in your submission on time, it doesn’t matter where you do the rest!
-
Heck no! This challenge is exactly that: a challenge. That means that no matter what level of writing you at currently at, participating in this challenge will only help you get better! This challenge is for seasoned writers and newcomers alike!
-
You must be over 18 to participate.
-
YES! Woodland Writers reserves the right to publish the story on the website, but the rights to the story remain yours.
-
Yes!
-
Yes!
-
Yes! Woodland Writers is not responsible for translating your story into English. You may, however, use phrases or quotes in other languages throughout the story.
-
We will refund the cost of your ticket minus the cost of processing fees up to 72 hours before the challenge start time. After this, registration fees will be non-refundable.
-
The stories will go through 2 rounds of preliminary judging based on a standardized rubric with various criteria. The top stories from the preliminary rounds of judging will go on to be read and reviewed in a final round of judging, where winners are selected.
Each story is read and reviewed in a set of 20 stories, and each story will be scored by multiple readers. You will receive feedback from at least one reviewer in each round your story advances to. The amount of feedback you receive will depend on how many rounds your story goes through.
-
Yes, international participants are welcome! Just make sure to adjust the time zone so you get your assignment in on time.
-
Stories will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Creativity & Originality
Storytelling & Engagement
Character Development
Creative use of Required Prompts
World-Building
Conflict
Dialogue
-
Your story should be a maximum of 2,000 words. There is no minimum. This does not include the title page/synopsis.
-
At the start of the challenge, you’ll receive an email that will include all of the instructions for submission. There will be a link to a form in Award Force where you will be able to submit your story.
-
No, all submissions must be original to this challenge! That is how we keep the challenge fair for everyone participating.
-
No. At the start of the challenge, you’ll receive an email with specific prompts and elements that you’ll need to include in your story. So, if you start writing before receiving those instructions, you’ll likely need to start all over anyway!
-
Yes, but it needs to be a story that was written specifically for this challenge, and it needs to read as a stand alone story. An excerpt from a larger work will be disqualified.
-
Yes, you may submit a retelling. Fanfics, however, will not be accepted and will be disqualified.
-
No! A.I. is not allowed anywhere in the writing or reviewing process.