Hearts Ablaze
The Elegant Literature award for new writers.
Hearts Ablaze
DECEMBER 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
Current Submission Count:
147
Updated December 31st at 930pm
About the Contest
Write a story involving hearts ablaze, and a key.
$3,000 grand prize.
Feel your senses heighten as passion swells your chest. Whether you fight for virtue or seek the thrill of dark pleasures, something always fans the flames…
Desire drives us all. Warriors beat shields to a grand speech and thump chests when victorious. Lovers lock gazes over dinner like a killer and victim over the knife. Emotion thaws. Beautiful art, sunrises, and crescendoing music. The blazing eyes of a zealot. For others it’s love of money, or unreciprocated charity. Revolutions rise with fervor but pistols stay holstered until the moment comes. From babes clutching their mothers to elderly couples sharing their last breath, we humans are creatures of the heart. And so are the things we make. Machines fed on glowing coal and rockets propelled by raging heat. But volcanic depths of liquid flame and stars of pure fire litter the universe. What are our passions against the grand scope of the cosmos?
This contest invites you to explore Hearts Ablaze, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.
Submissions close December 31st at 11:59 pm EST. Contest only open to new writers.
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Meet The Head Judge
Creag Munroe
Creag Munroe has swum with sharks and ridden motorcycles through monsoons, experiences that fuel his fascination with the world’s hidden stories. In 2021, he realized the fiction industry was becoming increasingly hyper-competitive, so built Elegant Literature, a magazine and award exclusively for new writers. Since then he has put over $200k into the hands of authors worldwide, judged the British Fantasy Awards, and read more than 6000 short stories.
Creag is an avid reader who inhales books at an alarming rate, once packing 4 novels for a single flight, just to be safe. He writes about storytelling, personal growth, and building a creative career. Passionate about helping the next generation of writers, he’s committed to empowering them to get their stories out into the world—and be paid for it.
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.
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 December 1st.
The contest closes at 11:59 pm EST on December 31st
Winners will be announced on February 1st.
Entries:
Unlimited. English language only. Must follow the contest theme/prompt and include the word “key” (or keys, keyed, etc).
Length:
Minimum 500 words. Maximum 2000. Word count does not include title of work.
Head Judge:
Creag Munroe
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.
DECEMBER 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
Current Submission Count:
147
Updated December 31st at 930pm
Meet The Previous Winners
About the Contest
Write a story involving hearts ablaze, and a key.
$3,000 grand prize.
Feel your senses heighten as passion swells your chest. Whether you fight for virtue or seek the thrill of dark pleasures, something always fans the flames…
Desire drives us all. Warriors beat shields to a grand speech and thump chests when victorious. Lovers lock gazes over dinner like a killer and victim over the knife. Emotion thaws. Beautiful art, sunrises, and crescendoing music. The blazing eyes of a zealot. For others it’s love of money, or unreciprocated charity. Revolutions rise with fervor but pistols stay holstered until the moment comes. From babes clutching their mothers to elderly couples sharing their last breath, we humans are creatures of the heart. And so are the things we make. Machines fed on glowing coal and rockets propelled by raging heat. But volcanic depths of liquid flame and stars of pure fire litter the universe. What are our passions against the grand scope of the cosmos?
This contest invites you to explore Hearts Ablaze, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.
Submissions close December 31st at 11:59 pm EST. Contest only open to new writers.
Share on
Meet The Head Judge
Creag Munroe
Creag Munroe has swum with sharks and ridden motorcycles through monsoons, experiences that fuel his fascination with the world’s hidden stories. In 2021, he realized the fiction industry was becoming increasingly hyper-competitive, so built Elegant Literature, a magazine and award exclusively for new writers. Since then he has put over $200k into the hands of authors worldwide, judged the British Fantasy Awards, and read more than 6000 short stories.
Creag is an avid reader who inhales books at an alarming rate, once packing 4 novels for a single flight, just to be safe. He writes about storytelling, personal growth, and building a creative career. Passionate about helping the next generation of writers, he’s committed to empowering them to get their stories out into the world—and be paid for it.
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.
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 December 1st.
The contest closes at 11:59 pm EST on December 31st
Winners will be announced on February 1st.
Entries:
Unlimited. English language only. Must follow the contest theme/prompt and include the word “key” (or keys, keyed, etc).
Length:
Minimum 500 words. Maximum 2000. Word count does not include title of work.
Head Judge:
Creag Munroe
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.