Shadows & Knives
The Elegant Literature award for new writers.
APRIL AWARDS
1st Place:
$3000 Elegant Literature Award
10c/word and publication
Free enrollment in New Novelist Accelerator
2nd – 10th Place:
10c/word and publication
11th – 35th Place:
$20
Early Bird
Now Novel Package ($65 value)
Final Submission Count:
256
About the Contest
Write a story involving Shadows & Knives, and a crow.
$3,000 grand prize.
Hurry down the street as night falls. Is that movement in the shadows? Don’t look back. Dark figures block your path, steel glinting. No time to think. Do you run, fight, or scream?
Murder is as old as time. The lights come on and someone’s dead. Everyone’s a suspect. The genius detective plays cat and mouse with a meticulous villain. Bodies, blackmail, and bloodstained letters. The cozy mystery is anything but for the victim. Prepare your alibi, avoid suspicion, and hope the trail of bodies leads back to the butler. The investigator has a secret, and the killer is working with the police. Conspiracies, confessions, and court intrigue. Assassins and bloody night raids—danger lurks in the dark. So accept the invitation, gather round the campfire, and hope the train doesn’t go through a tunnel. It’s a mystery, and we’re all gathered for the big reveal.
This contest invites you to explore shadows and knives, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.
Submissions close April 30th at 11:59 pm EST. Contest only open to new writers.
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Meet The Guest Judge
Hayley Milliman
As Head of Education at ProWritingAid, Hayley focuses on building engaging, helpful learning content for the millions of users who rely on ProWritingAid to make their writing clear and effective. Hayley has a robust writing portfolio and has written for dozens of publications on topics related to education, marketing strategy, history, entrepreneurship, and more. She has also published several books related to writing and history, one of which hit the Amazon bestseller list.
Past Judges
Read stories from
the last contest.
Get it in your inbox (it’s free).
Are you a new or unpublished author? We want to see your work. Check out the link below to learn what we are looking for.
Contest Short Rules
Who can enter?
New or unpublished authors, from anywhere in the world (excluding Quebec, Canada). Full details here.
Prize:
1st place: $3,000 USD. Free enrollment in the New Novelist Accelerator.
2nd – 10th: 10c/word and publication.
11th – 35th: $20 USD and an honorable mention in the magazine.
Early Bird: Now Novel Package, including lifetime membership, plot and character guides (est. value $65 USD). Awarded to the top judged, non-published story submitted by midnight on the 15th of the month.
How to enter: Sign up for an Elegant+ Membership and visit the Members Area, or click “Enter Now” on the contest page. Fill out the form and copy/paste (preferred method) or upload a file containing your work.
Important Dates:
The contest opens at 12:01 am EST on April 1st.
The contest closes at 11:59 pm EST on April 30th.
Winners will be announced on June 1st.
Entries:
Unlimited. English language only. Must follow the contest theme/prompt and include the word “crow” (or crowed, crowbar, etc).
Length:
Minimum 500 words. Maximum 2000. Word count does not include title of work.
Head Judge:
Hayley Milliman
Selection Criteria:
The Judge will choose the winner based on:
Creativity
Character
Structure & Flow
Quality of Writing
For more information, please see the full Contest Rules.
For answers to common questions, please see the FAQ.
We have a uniquely streamlined Publication Process. Read about it here.
See our Submission Guidelines for information on how to increase your chance of selection.
The Elegant Literature Award For New Writers
APRIL AWARDS
1st Place:
$3000 Elegant Literature Award
10c/word and publication
Free enrollment in New Novelist Accelerator
2nd – 10th Place:
10c/word and publication
11th – 35th Place:
$20
Early Bird
Now Novel Package ($65 value)
Final Submission Count:
256
Meet The Previous Winners
About the Contest
Write a story involving Shadows & Knives, and a crow.
$3,000 grand prize.
Hurry down the street as night falls. Is that movement in the shadows? Don’t look back. Dark figures block your path, steel glinting. No time to think. Do you run, fight, or scream?
Murder is as old as time. The lights come on and someone’s dead. Everyone’s a suspect. The genius detective plays cat and mouse with a meticulous villain. Bodies, blackmail, and bloodstained letters. The cozy mystery is anything but for the victim. Prepare your alibi, avoid suspicion, and hope the trail of bodies leads back to the butler. The investigator has a secret, and the killer is working with the police. Conspiracies, confessions, and court intrigue. Assassins and bloody night raids—danger lurks in the dark. So accept the invitation, gather round the campfire, and hope the train doesn’t go through a tunnel. It’s a mystery, and we’re all gathered for the big reveal.
This contest invites you to explore shadows and knives, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.
Submissions close April 30th at 11:59 pm EST. Contest only open to new writers.
Meet The Guest Judge
Hayley Milliman
As Head of Education at ProWritingAid, Hayley focuses on building engaging, helpful learning content for the millions of users who rely on ProWritingAid to make their writing clear and effective. Hayley has a robust writing portfolio and has written for dozens of publications on topics related to education, marketing strategy, history, entrepreneurship, and more. She has also published several books related to writing and history, one of which hit the Amazon bestseller list.
Past Judges
Read stories from
the last contest.
Get it in your inbox (it’s free).
Are you a new or unpublished author? We want to see your work. Check out the link below to learn what we are looking for.
Contest Short Rules
Who can enter?
New or unpublished authors, from anywhere in the world (excluding Quebec, Canada). Full details here.
Prize:
1st place: $3,000 USD. Free enrollment in the New Novelist Accelerator.
2nd – 10th: 10c/word and publication.
11th – 35th: $20 USD and an honorable mention in the magazine.
Early Bird: Now Novel Package, including lifetime membership, plot and character guides (est. value $65 USD). Awarded to the top judged, non-published story submitted by midnight on the 15th of the month.
How to enter: Sign up for an Elegant+ Membership and visit the Members Area, or click “Enter Now” on the contest page. Fill out the form and copy/paste (preferred method) or upload a file containing your work.
Important Dates:
The contest opens at 12:01 am EST on April 1st.
The contest closes at 11:59 pm EST on April 30th.
Winners will be announced on June 1st.
Entries:
Unlimited. English language only. Must follow the contest theme/prompt and include the word “crow” (or crowed, crowbar, etc).
Length:
Minimum 500 words. Maximum 2000. Word count does not include title of work.
Head Judge:
Hayley Milliman
Selection Criteria:
The Judge will choose the winner based on:
Creativity
Character
Structure & Flow
Quality of Writing
For more information, please see the full Contest Rules.
For answers to common questions, please see the FAQ.
We have a uniquely streamlined Publication Process. Read about it here.
See our Submission Guidelines for information on how to increase your chance of selection.