Crossroads & Consequence
The Elegant Literature award for new writers.
Crossroads & Consequence
The Elegant Literature award for new writers.
Special Collaboration. Two Prize Categories.
Written 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
Audio Awards
1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $300
3rd Place: $200
All winners featured in the Recommended Section on Spoken Network for one week.
Further audio production guidance and opportunity available.
Contest Prompt
Write a story involving Crossroads and Consequence, and a scale.
$3000 grand prize
Stand at the fork, paths splitting in every direction. One holds what you desire, the others… well, best not to dwell on that. Your life hangs in the balance, along with all those you love. Now, it’s time to make your choice…
Life is a series of crossroads—every choice is destiny, or chance. Decisions define us, propelling forward or pulling back. The villain was once a hero. Fate or free will? A flip of the coin alters the future. A kingdom saved, a planet destroyed. High stakes and uncertain outcomes. Can you live with the responsibility, the repercussions? Leave it to others more qualified, or just more powerful. Intersections everywhere, from the world stage to the lover’s heart. Courses determined by one, by many, by the machines, the effects rippling out in waves. I hope you brought a reliable guide, for life’s long journey is riddled with junctions offering promise and peril, and the regret of the road not taken. So, which path will you walk, and what price are you willing to pay?
This contest invites you to explore Crossroads and Consequence, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.
Submissions close January 31st at 11:59 pm EST. Contest only open to new writers.
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Meet The Guest Judge
Marisca Pichette
Marisca Pichette works in speculative and literary fiction, poetry, and essay. Her writing has been nominated for the Bram Stoker, Pushcart, Best of the Net, Rhysling, Utopia, and Dwarf Stars awards. Straying from fairy tale to horror to the in-between, her work investigates queerness and marginalized identity–often involving monsters. She is represented by Amy Collins.
Marisca has presented critical work at the International Conference of the Fantastic in the Arts and the Once and Future Fantasies Conference. She has given readings and sat on creative panels at the Nebula Conference, World Fantasy Convention, Can*Con, Boskone, Arisia, Readercon, and the International Conference of the Fantastic in the Arts. In 2023, she mentored with the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. In 2024, she led workshops with Elegant Literature.
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 “crow”, “crowbar” and “scarecrow” are admissible. As long as the prompt word is 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.
Written 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 January 1.
The contest closes at 11:59 pm EST on January 31.
Winners will be announced on March 1.
Entries:
Unlimited. English language only. Must follow the contest theme and include the prompt word (i.e. scale, scales, scaled, etc).
Length:
Minimum 500 words. Maximum 2000. Word count does not include title of work.
Guest Judge:
Marisca Pichette
Lead Judge:
Creag Munroe
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.
Final Submission Count:
277
Meet The Previous Winners
Contest Prompt
Write a story involving Crossroads and Consequence, and a scale.
$3000 grand prize
Stand at the fork, paths splitting in every direction. One holds what you desire, the others… well, best not to dwell on that. Your life hangs in the balance, along with all those you love. Now, it’s time to make your choice…
Life is a series of crossroads—every choice is destiny, or chance. Decisions define us, propelling forward or pulling back. The villain was once a hero. Fate or free will? A flip of the coin alters the future. A kingdom saved, a planet destroyed. High stakes and uncertain outcomes. Can you live with the responsibility, the repercussions? Leave it to others more qualified, or just more powerful. Intersections everywhere, from the world stage to the lover’s heart. Courses determined by one, by many, by the machines, the effects rippling out in waves. I hope you brought a reliable guide, for life’s long journey is riddled with junctions offering promise and peril, and the regret of the road not taken. So, which path will you walk, and what price are you willing to pay?
This contest invites you to explore Crossroads and Consequence, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.
Submissions close January 31st at 11:59 pm EST. Contest only open to new writers.
Share on
Meet The Guest Judge
Marisca Pichette
Marisca Pichette works in speculative and literary fiction, poetry, and essay. Her writing has been nominated for the Bram Stoker, Pushcart, Best of the Net, Rhysling, Utopia, and Dwarf Stars awards. Straying from fairy tale to horror to the in-between, her work investigates queerness and marginalized identity–often involving monsters. She is represented by Amy Collins.
Marisca has presented critical work at the International Conference of the Fantastic in the Arts and the Once and Future Fantasies Conference. She has given readings and sat on creative panels at the Nebula Conference, World Fantasy Convention, Can*Con, Boskone, Arisia, Readercon, and the International Conference of the Fantastic in the Arts. In 2023, she mentored with the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. In 2024, she led workshops with Elegant Literature.
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 “crow”, “crowbar” and “scarecrow” are admissible. As long as the prompt word is 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 January 1.
The contest closes at 11:59 pm EST on January 31.
Winners will be announced on March 1.
Entries:
Unlimited. English language only. Must follow the contest theme and include the prompt word (i.e. scale, scales, scaled, etc).
Length:
Minimum 500 words. Maximum 2000. Word count does not include title of work.
Guest Judge:
Marisca Pichette
Lead Judge:
Creag Munroe
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.
Special Collaboration Rules
What is Spoken?
Spoken is a unique platform for writers to transform their fiction into high-quality audio.
The Spoken platform offers the first purpose-built studio workflow for authors to take full advantage of AI voice technology to easily and affordably create fantastic audio, publish it themselves, build a brand, and monetize the projects they create.
It’s like Spotify + Instagram + ElevenLabs, for authors.
Spoken Studio deeply analyzes each work and character to surface the perfect voices. These voices, whether of voice actors or character-generated, are used to craft the perfect single or multi-cast narration. More affordably and easily than ever before, Spoken democratizes access to narration. For epic multi-book sagas or a micro fiction piece, all works can find their voice.
How to enter:
I) Write your story for the written award as normal.
II) Join the Spoken Platform for free.*
III) Use the studio to narrate your work, using a single narrator or unique voice for each character.
IV) Either:
a) mark finished audio as “unlisted”.
b) publish publicly to the Spoken Network.**
V) Copy the link to your audio work and paste it in the “Spoken Audio Link” box on Elegant Literature’s submission form when submitting to the contest.***
* Audio submissions are not required to enter the written award.
** Publishing publicly means you cannot sell the story to another market as an unpublished work in the future. “Unlisted” preserves that option.
*** Audio winners will be selected by the Spoken judging team and may be different from the Written Award Winners.
Transparency & Common Concerns
Author Creative Rights
Authors retain full ownership of their content. Spoken acts only as a tool to help Authors create and distribute their content.
First Publication Rights
Publishing to the Spoken Network is similar to publishing to your own website in that you can promote, edit, or remove the piece whenever you wish, but can no longer sell first rights to a publisher. Use the “unlisted” feature to submit to the audio contest while retaining first rights. Publishing publicly on Spoken will not effect Elegant Literature buying your story.
Your writing is NOT used to train AI.
No content shared with Spoken is leveraged to train or refine any LLM.
Ethics
Voice actors are paid when their AI-cloned voice is used in an audio work. Spoken does not use AI to aid authors in writing their story, only for affordable narration. Elegant Literature prohibits the use of AI-generated written work for magazine and award submissions.
Author Control
Writers have complete control over their content and can remove their content from Spoken at any time.