$38 to enter // $1,800 first place reward
Cryptids
Fantsy Short Story Writing Challenge
2,000 words or less
Think Bigfoot, Loch Ness Monster, Chupacabra, Mothman, Yeti,
REGISTER BY: FRIDAY, AUGUST 14TH, 2026 @ 8:00PM ET
CHALLENGE START: FRIDAY, AUGUST 14TH, 2026 @ 9:00PM ET
CHALLENGE END: MONDAY , AUGUST 24TH, 2026 @ 9:00PM ET
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.
Join the Challenge
INCLUDES
Entry to short story challenge and chance to win a cash prize
Creative writing workshop — live virtual call with recording
Two write-in calls during the challenge week
Access to the Forest & Fawn free writer’s community forum
Feedback on your story
How a challenge works
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REGISTER
Register by June 17, 2026 to join our creative writing workshop. Final registration closes 8:00pm Eastern Time on Thursday, June 18th.
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CHALLENGE START
The challenge starts at 9:00pm ET on Thursday, June 18th, 2026. At that time, you’ll receive the prompts you’ll need to complete the challenge.
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WRITE! EDIT! SUBMIT!
You have 11 days to let you imagination run wild and your creativity shine to write your story of 2,000 words or less! Join us in 2 write-ins for some accountability.
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WAIT
This is arguably 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.
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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.
Absolutely not!
While we welcome established and practiced fantasy writers 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.
Do I need to be a serious writer to join?
The Prizes
$1,800
Story and written interview published on the Woodland Writers website.
1st Place
2nd Place
$900
Story published on the Woodland Writers website.
$400
3rd Place
Story published on the Woodland Writers website.
4th-10th
$100
Story published on the Woodland Writers website.
Don’t just take our word for it…
Love fantasy 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
This challenge is for you if you…
NOT FEELING INSPIRED? DON’T WORRY, WE GOT YOU.
We’re hosting a creative writing workshop exclusively for challenge participants.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17TH, 2026 @ 7:00PM EASTERN TIME
We’ll have prompts ready to help get your creative juices flowing, let you take you ideas for a test run, and maybe even make a couple friends in the process.
If you’re new to writing, you might be very surprised what magic you might create in just 10 days.
Not quite ready? Take it from past writers.
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“I love these writing challenges! They help so much with incorporating idea's I would have never though would fit!”
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“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!"
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"I loved that every entry received feedback on their stories and I’ll definitely be entering again!”"
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“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."
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“This challenge provided a great opportunity to push myself and let other people read my writing for the first time!"
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“This was fun, scary, thrilling, and regardless of the outcome; extremely validating to get feedback on something I wrote."
The Review Process
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. They score the story using a common rubric that judges the story based on the following categories: character development, pacing, world-building, readability, imagery, and how creatively the prompts & theme were used. 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
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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.
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You must be over 18 to participate.
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No! Our writing challenges are open to everyone.
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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
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Yes!
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Yes!
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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!
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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!
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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.
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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.
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You will be able to access your feedback for 1 month after it is sent out.
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YES! Woodland Writers reserves the right to publish the story on the website, but the rights to the story remain yours.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Yes, international participants are welcome! Just make sure to adjust the time zone so you get your assignment in on time.
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Stories will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Creativity & Originality
Storytelling & Engagement
Character Development
Creative use of Required Prompts
World-Building
Conflict
Dialogue
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Your story should be a maximum of 2,000 words. There is no minimum. This does not include the title page/synopsis.
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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.
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No, all submissions must be original to this challenge! That is how we keep the challenge fair for everyone participating.
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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!
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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.
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Yes, you may submit a retelling. Fanfics, however, will not be accepted and will be disqualified.
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No! A.I. is not allowed anywhere in the writing or reviewing process.