Madness and Monsters
The Elegant Literature award for new writers.
Madness and Monsters
OCTOBER 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:
232
About the Contest
Write a story involving Madness and Monsters, and a skull.
$3,000 grand prize
Lock the windows and bolt the doors. Hole up in your house—it’s the safest place you know. They call you crazy, but you’re not. You know you’re not. And only you can stop the monsters from getting in…
History is laced with frightful creatures. Maybe the stories drive us to madness, or perhaps hallucinations craft the narrative. Can we trust our own thoughts? Delusions, delirium, and doppelgangers. Dancing plagues and shared psychosis. The Jekyll and Hyde’s live among us, no longer outcasts but holding positions of power. People chase Big Foot and the boogeyman under their bed. They believe their lover is an imposter while happily raising a changeling. Werewolves, wendigo, and will-o’-the-wisps. Why do dragons appear in nearly every culture? From harmless not-deer and dangerous cryptids to the eldritch of the stars, the siren call lures us deeper, until we no longer recognize the face in the mirror. Until there’s nothing left but you, the monsters, and the madness.
This contest invites you to explore Madness and Monsters, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.
Submissions close October 31st at 11:59 pm EST. Contest only open to new writers.
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Meet The Guest Judge
Shiv Ramdas
Shiv Ramdas is a multi-award nominated author of speculative fiction short stories and novels. He lives and writes in Seattle, Washington with his wife and three cats. In 2020 he became one of only two Indian writers to ever be nominated for a Hugo, a Nebula and an Ignyte Award in the same year. He also gained Twitter fame in 2020 for live-tweeting the saga of his brother-in-law’s rice mishap. His first novel, Domechild, was India’s first mainstream cyberpunk novel. His short fiction has appeared in Slate, Strange Horizons, Fireside Fiction, Podcastle and other publications.
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Are you a new or unpublished author?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 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.
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.
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 (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 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 “skull” (or skulls, skulled etc).
Length:
Minimum 500 words. Maximum 2000. Word count does not include title of work.
Guest Judge:
Shiv Ramdas
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.
OCTOBER 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:
232
Meet The Previous Winners
About the Contest
Write a story involving Madness and Monsters, and a skull.
$3,000 grand prize
Lock the windows and bolt the doors. Hole up in your house—it’s the safest place you know. They call you crazy, but you’re not. You know you’re not. And only you can stop the monsters from getting in…
History is laced with frightful creatures. Maybe the stories drive us to madness, or perhaps hallucinations craft the narrative. Can we trust our own thoughts? Delusions, delirium, and doppelgangers. Dancing plagues and shared psychosis. The Jekyll and Hyde’s live among us, no longer outcasts but holding positions of power. People chase Big Foot and the boogeyman under their bed. They believe their lover is an imposter while happily raising a changeling. Werewolves, wendigo, and will-o’-the-wisps. Why do dragons appear in nearly every culture? From harmless not-deer and dangerous cryptids to the eldritch of the stars, the siren call lures us deeper, until we no longer recognize the face in the mirror. Until there’s nothing left but you, the monsters, and the madness.
This contest invites you to explore Madness and Monsters, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.
Submissions close October 31st at 11:59 pm EST. Contest only open to new writers.
Share on
Meet The Guest Judge
Shiv Ramdas
Shiv Ramdas is a multi-award nominated author of speculative fiction short stories and novels. He lives and writes in Seattle, Washington with his wife and three cats. In 2020 he became one of only two Indian writers to ever be nominated for a Hugo, a Nebula and an Ignyte Award in the same year. He also gained Twitter fame in 2020 for live-tweeting the saga of his brother-in-law’s rice mishap. His first novel, Domechild, was India’s first mainstream cyberpunk novel. His short fiction has appeared in Slate, Strange Horizons, Fireside Fiction, Podcastle and other publications.
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 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.
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.
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 (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 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 “skull” (or skulls, skulled etc).
Length:
Minimum 500 words. Maximum 2000. Word count does not include title of work.
Guest Judge:
Shiv Ramdas
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.