Message Received
The Elegant Literature award for new writers.
Message Received
AUGUST 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 + Honorable Mention
Final Submission Count:
268
About the Contest
Write a story involving Message Received, and a seal.
$3000 Grand Prize
You wait, palms sweaty, eager for news. Footsteps in the hall. A shadow blocks the strip of light under your door. An envelope slides in. This is it. Trembling, you open the invitation…
Smoke signals, ink on paper, whispers through static-filled phone lines. Communication is the story of human history. From front-page headlines to handwritten letters, language unites us and opens the door to emotion. Love notes, breakup calls, accidental group texts that change everything. The final voicemail of a loved one, replayed endlessly. Radio waves carrying casual chats or propaganda broadcast worldwide. Revolutions sparked by song lyrics, guided by graffiti, organized by instructions from an untraceable number. Memos passed, missives stamped, Morse code tapped… mayday, mayday! An SOS drawn in sand or sent to the stars—is anyone out there? And so we wait, jumping at every false notification. Listening for something—anything—to come through clearly. A ping, a pulse. Then it arrives. Message received. But who sent it, and can you risk a reply?
This contest invites you to explore Message Received, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.
Share on:
Meet The Head Judge
TJ Price
TJ Price’s corporeal being is currently located in Raleigh, NC, with his handsome partner of many years, but his ghosts live in northeastern Connecticut, southern Maine, and north Brooklyn. He is the author of the novelette The Disappearance of Tom Nero (May 2023), published by Spooky House Press. His work has also appeared— or is forthcoming—in Nightmare Magazine, Pidgeonholes, The Bear Creek Gazette, The NoSleep Podcast, and various anthologies.
Besides short stories, TJ also writes poetry, has two novels in a drawer (one good, one evil), and has also written a handful of plays. His writing leans on the shoulder of horror, if it is not outright grabbing its cold, cold hand.
Currently, TJ also serves as Associate Editor at Haven Speculative magazine.
Past Judges
Read stories from
the last contest.
Are you a new or unpublished author?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 FAQ
New or unpublished authors, from anywhere in the world (excluding Quebec, Canada), may enter the contest as long as they are an Elegant+ member.
Writers who are new or have never been published are encouraged to submit work.
Part of our mission is to promote new talent, so we ask authors with certain levels of publication history not to enter.
Please do not submit work if you have:
a) traditionally published a novel of greater than 40,000 words,
b) self-published a novel of greater than 40,000 words and sold 100+ copies,
c) sold four or more works of short fiction to markets paying 8c/word or greater,
d) self-published short fiction work totalling 10,000 words or more, with profits in excess of $500.
e) won a fiction contest with a prize greater than $2,500.
Published authors can still join the community and participate in the Community Workshops.
If you have not met any of the thresholds above, you are considered a new writer in the eyes of Elegant Literature, and are eligible to enter the contest and submit to the magazine.
Yes. We accept worldwide submissions.
The story can be about anything you like, as long as it fits the contest prompt. Our prompts consist of a theme and a prompt word.
The theme is a general topic, like Future Fears, Tricky Time, or Shadows & Knives. As long as your story is related to the theme, no matter how loosely, you’re all set. You don’t need to actually say the “theme” words in your story.
Yes. We accept any genre, and our themes are formatted to give you great freedom, but there must be some connection.
We love being surprised and seeing the theme twisted in unexpected ways, as long as it’s clear the author has incorporated it into their story.
Each story must include a word specified by the issue prompt. Writers find this fun, and it ensures work is original. However, it need not constrain you.
The root word must exist in the text, but does not have to be central to the story, or even be in the expected context. For example, if the word is “Hammer”, we’ll accept hammers and hammered and “Ha-ha-ha-HAMMERED”.
You can write about a hammerhead shark and you’ll be fine.
Still, the prompt word must appear in the text in some form. For example, if the prompt word is “cork”, then you can include cork, corked, corks, Cork (Ireland), corkscrew (as in a plane out of control), or C.O.R.K. (an acronym for something).
If the prompt word is “watch”, “pocketwatch” and “watchmen” are admissible, but “paint swatch” is not. As long as the prompt word is part of the base.
Read any issue and you’ll see the creative ways our authors sneak the prompt word into their stories.
The prompt word is found in the About The Contest section above, written as:
“Write a story involving [theme], and a [prompt word].”
Technically, no. We don’t wish to constrain your creativity with too many rules. However, some content will be less likely to get published. Overly descriptive erotica. Thinly disguised hate speech or rascism. The stuff any reputable publication would refuse to print. We don’t mean you can’t include sex, violence, or hateful characters, only that it should be done in a way that advances the story and doesn’t reflect real world prejudice.
Absolutely. You can submit as many stories as you like. However, we highly encourage quality over quantity.
Contest Short Rules
Who can enter?
New or unpublished authors, from anywhere in the world (excluding Quebec, Canada). Full details here.
Prizes:
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.
How to enter: Sign up for an Elegant+ Membership and visit the Members Area (AuthorHQ), 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 August 1.
The contest closes at 11:59 pm EST on August 31.
Winners will be announced on October 1.
Entries:
Unlimited. English language only. Must follow the contest theme and include the prompt word (seal, seals, sealed, etc).
Length:
Minimum 500 words. Maximum 2000. Word count does not include title of work.
Guest Judge:
TJ Price
Lead Judge:
Creag Munroe
Preliminary Judges:
Jaime Gill
Anne Wilkins
Julia Wilkins
Selection Criteria:
The judges 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.
AUGUST 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 + Honorable Mention
Final Submission Count:
268
Meet The Previous Winners
About the Contest
Write a story involving Message Received, and a seal.
$3000 Grand Prize
You wait, palms sweaty, eager for news. Footsteps in the hall. A shadow blocks the strip of light under your door. An envelope slides in. This is it. Trembling, you open the invitation…
Smoke signals, ink on paper, whispers through static-filled phone lines. Communication is the story of human history. From front-page headlines to handwritten letters, language unites us and opens the door to emotion. Love notes, breakup calls, accidental group texts that change everything. The final voicemail of a loved one, replayed endlessly. Radio waves carrying casual chats or propaganda broadcast worldwide. Revolutions sparked by song lyrics, guided by graffiti, organized by instructions from an untraceable number. Memos passed, missives stamped, Morse code tapped… mayday, mayday! An SOS drawn in sand or sent to the stars—is anyone out there? And so we wait, jumping at every false notification. Listening for something—anything—to come through clearly. A ping, a pulse. Then it arrives. Message received. But who sent it, and can you risk a reply?
This contest invites you to explore Message Received, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.
Share on
Meet The Head Judge
TJ Price
TJ Price’s corporeal being is currently located in Raleigh, NC, with his handsome partner of many years, but his ghosts live in northeastern Connecticut, southern Maine, and north Brooklyn. He is the author of the novelette The Disappearance of Tom Nero (May 2023), published by Spooky House Press. His work has also appeared— or is forthcoming—in Nightmare Magazine, Pidgeonholes, The Bear Creek Gazette, The NoSleep Podcast, and various anthologies.
Besides short stories, TJ also writes poetry, has two novels in a drawer (one good, one evil), and has also written a handful of plays. His writing leans on the shoulder of horror, if it is not outright grabbing its cold, cold hand.
Currently, TJ also serves as Associate Editor at Haven Speculative magazine.
Past Judges
Read stories from
the last contest.
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 FAQ
New or unpublished authors, from anywhere in the world (excluding Quebec, Canada), may enter the contest as long as they are an Elegant+ member.
Writers who are new or have never been published are encouraged to submit work.
Part of our mission is to promote new talent, so we ask authors with certain levels of publication history not to enter.
Please do not submit work if you have:
a) traditionally published a novel of greater than 40,000 words,
b) self-published a novel of greater than 40,000 words and sold 100+ copies,
c) sold four or more works of short fiction to markets paying 8c/word or greater,
d) self-published short fiction work totalling 10,000 words or more, with profits in excess of $500.
e) won a fiction contest with a prize greater than $2,500.
Published authors can still join the community and participate in the Community Workshops.
If you have not met any of the thresholds above, you are considered a new writer in the eyes of Elegant Literature, and are eligible to enter the contest and submit to the magazine.
Yes. We accept worldwide submissions.
The story can be about anything you like, as long as it fits the contest prompt. Our prompts consist of a theme and a prompt word.
The theme is a general topic, like Future Fears, Tricky Time, or Shadows & Knives. As long as your story is related to the theme, no matter how loosely, you’re all set. You don’t need to actually say the “theme” words in your story.
Yes. We accept any genre, and our themes are formatted to give you great freedom, but there must be some connection.
We love being surprised and seeing the theme twisted in unexpected ways, as long as it’s clear the author has incorporated it into their story.
Each story must include a word specified by the issue prompt. Writers find this fun, and it ensures work is original. However, it need not constrain you.
The root word must exist in the text, but does not have to be central to the story, or even be in the expected context. For example, if the word is “Hammer”, we’ll accept hammers and hammered and “Ha-ha-ha-HAMMERED”.
You can write about a hammerhead shark and you’ll be fine.
Still, the prompt word must appear in the text in some form. For example, if the prompt word is “cork”, then you can include cork, corked, corks, Cork (Ireland), corkscrew (as in a plane out of control), or C.O.R.K. (an acronym for something).
If the prompt word is “watch”, “pocketwatch” and “watchmen” are admissible, but “paint swatch” is not. As long as the prompt word is part of the base.
Read any issue and you’ll see the creative ways our authors sneak the prompt word into their stories.
The prompt word is found in the About The Contest section above, written as:
“Write a story involving [theme], and a [prompt word].”
Technically, no. We don’t wish to constrain your creativity with too many rules. However, some content will be less likely to get published. Overly descriptive erotica. Thinly disguised hate speech or rascism. The stuff any reputable publication would refuse to print. We don’t mean you can’t include sex, violence, or hateful characters, only that it should be done in a way that advances the story and doesn’t reflect real world prejudice.
Absolutely. You can submit as many stories as you like. However, we highly encourage quality over quantity.
Contest Short Rules
Who can enter?
New or unpublished authors, from anywhere in the world (excluding Quebec, Canada). Full details here.
Prizes:
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.
How to enter:
Sign up for an Elegant+ Membership and visit the Members Area (AuthorHQ), 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 August 1.
The contest closes at 11:59 pm EST on August 31.
Winners will be announced on October 1.
Entries:
Unlimited. English language only. Must follow the contest theme and include the prompt word (seal, seals, sealed, etc).
Length:
Minimum 500 words. Maximum 2000. Word count does not include title of work.
Guest Judge:
TJ Price
Lead Judge:
Creag Munroe
Preliminary Judges:
Jaime Gill
Anne Wilkins
Julia Wilkins
Selection Criteria:
The judges 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.