Future Fears
$20,000 Grand Prize
Meet The Winner
Playlist
About the Contest
Write a story involving fear, the future, and a mask.
$20,000 grand prize.
Fear is innate to humanity, as is our hope for the future. They are two sides of the same coin. You may worry about tomorrow’s meal while hoping for a better life, or consider your own mortality against the fate of humankind amongst the stars.
What is your worst nightmare? The one you can’t shake off in the morning when you wake up? What about that feeling of dread, or the thoughts of something happening to someone close to you. Fear is a powerful emotion and it has been around for as long as humans have existed. From what we know, fear drives us towards taking action and motivates us to avoid dangerous situations. But how do we handle our fears when they are irrational or unfounded? How do we stop ourselves from letting them control our lives?
This contest invites you to explore the elixir of fear with an eye to the future, whatever that means to you. Mystery, fantasy, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.
Submissions close October 31st at 11:59 pm EST. More details below.
Share this contest with friends.
Meet the Head Judge
Max Gladstone
Hugo-, Nebula-, and Locus Award winning author Max Gladstone’s works include Empress of Forever, the Craft Sequence of fantasy novels and games, and, with Amal El-Mohtar, the internationally bestselling This is How You Lose the Time War. His interactive projects include the XYZZY-nominated Choice of the Deathless and Deathless: The City’s Thirst, which take place in the world of the Craft Sequence. Gladstone created the Serial Box series Bookburners, and the interactive television series Wizard School Dropout.
Contest Short Rules
Who can enter?
Anyone, worldwide (excluding Quebec), ages 13+. Must be an Elegant+ member.
Prize: $20,000 USD. The winner and other selected stories will also be purchased at 10 cents ($0.10) per word and published in the magazine.
How to enter: Sign up for an Elegant+ Membership and visit the Members Area, or click “Submit Story” in the navigation bar. 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 October 1st.
The contest closes at 11:59 pm EST on October 31st.
Winners will be announced on December 1st.
Entries:
Unlimited. English language only. Must follow the contest theme/prompt and include the word “mask”.
Length:
Minimum 500 words. Maximum 2000. Word count does not include title of work.
Head Judge:
Max Gladstone
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.
We have a uniquely streamlined Publication Process. Read about it here.
Future Fears
$20,000 Grand Prize
Meet The Winner
Playlist
About the Contest
Write a story involving fear, the future, and a mask.
$20,000 grand prize.
Fear is innate to humanity, as is our hope for the future. They are two sides of the same coin. You may worry about tomorrow’s meal while hoping for a better life, or consider your own mortality against the fate of humankind amongst the stars.
What is your worst nightmare? The one you can’t shake off in the morning when you wake up? What about that feeling of dread, or the thoughts of something happening to someone close to you. Fear is a powerful emotion and it has been around for as long as humans have existed. From what we know, fear drives us towards taking action and motivates us to avoid dangerous situations. But how do we handle our fears when they are irrational or unfounded? How do we stop ourselves from letting them control our lives?
This contest invites you to explore the elixir of fear with an eye to the future, whatever that means to you. Mystery, fantasy, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.
Submissions close October 31st at 11:59 pm EST. More details below.
Share this contest with friends.
Meet the Head Judge
Max Gladstone
Hugo-, Nebula-, and Locus Award winning author Max Gladstone’s works include Empress of Forever, the Craft Sequence of fantasy novels and games, and, with Amal El-Mohtar, the internationally bestselling This is How You Lose the Time War. His interactive projects include the XYZZY-nominated Choice of the Deathless and Deathless: The City’s Thirst, which take place in the world of the Craft Sequence. Gladstone created the Serial Box series Bookburners, and the interactive television series Wizard School Dropout.
Contest Short Rules
Who can enter?
Anyone, worldwide (excluding Quebec), ages 13+. Must be an Elegant+ member.
Prize: $20,000 USD. The winner and other selected stories will also be purchased at 10 cents ($0.10) per word and published in the magazine.
How to enter: Sign up for an Elegant+ Membership and visit the Members Area, or click “Submit Story” in the navigation bar. 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 October 1st.
The contest closes at 11:59 pm EST on October 31st.
Winners will be announced on December 1st.
Entries:
Unlimited. English language only. Must follow the contest theme/prompt and include the word “mask”.
Length:
Minimum 500 words. Maximum 2000. Word count does not include title of work.
Head Judge:
Max Gladstone
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.
We have a uniquely streamlined Publication Process. Read about it here.