Forgotten Lands
The first magazine to pay professional rates and only accept submissions from new writers.
SEPTEMBER PRIZES
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
Total Submissions:
189
About the Contest
Write a story involving forgotten lands, and a bone.
$3,000 grand prize.
Explore the crumbling ruins. Is it your imagination or does time slip away? Do you feel the sadness of knowledge lost? What if you could step in a box, twist a dial, and go back… would you dare?
Atlantis, Shangri-La, and El Dorado. Legends of forgotten lands surround us, lying lost and secret between the cracks of a modern world. Where is the magic of Camelot, the Fae Courts, and Asgard? How do we get to the center of the Earth, and what is the purpose of Stonehenge? Generations of scholars seek places real and mythical, for riches, fame, or understanding. Explore or excavate, but be wary of traps. Think of gold, not curses. Treasure found where X marks the spot—if only the map would stop changing. Dreamscapes shift even as you move, your mind unable to recall details from moment to moment. One day, even Earth will be a forgotten spec in the vastness of space. Will we be around to remember it?
This contest invites you to explore forgotten lands, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.
Submissions close September 30th at 11:59 pm EST. Contest only open to new writers.
Share on:
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Are you a new or unpublished author?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.
Meet the Judge
Django Wexler
Django Wexler is the author of flintlock fantasy series The Shadow Campaigns, middle grade fantasy The Forbidden Library, and YA fantasy The Wells of Sorcery. His latest is epic fantasy Blood of the Chosen. In his former life as a software engineer, he worked on AI research and programming languages. He currently lives near Seattle with his wife, daughter, four cats, and a teetering mountain of books. When not writing, he wrangles computers, paints tiny soldiers, and plays games of all sorts.
Learn more about Django and read his books at:
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New or unpublished authors, from anywhere in the world (excluding Quebec, Canada).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 September 1st.
The contest closes at 11:59 pm EST on September 30th.
Winners will be announced on November 1st.
Entries:
Unlimited. English language only. Must follow the contest theme/prompt and include the word “bone”.
Length:
Minimum 500 words. Maximum 2000. Word count does not include title of work.
Head Judge:
Django Wexler
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.
Forgotten Lands
The first magazine to pay professional rates and only accept submissions from new writers.
The first magazine to pay professional rates and only accept submissions from new writers.
SEPTEMBER PRIZES
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
Total Submissions:
189
Meet The Previous Winners
About the Contest
Write a story involving forgotten lands, and a bone.
$3,000 grand prize.
Explore the crumbling ruins. Is it your imagination or does time slip away? Do you feel the sadness of knowledge lost? What if you could step in a box, twist a dial, and go back… would you dare?
Atlantis, Shangri-La, and El Dorado. Legends of forgotten lands surround us, lying lost and secret between the cracks of a modern world. Where is the magic of Camelot, the Fae Courts, and Asgard? How do we get to the center of the Earth, and what is the purpose of Stonehenge? Generations of scholars seek places real and mythical, for riches, fame, or understanding. Explore or excavate, but be wary of traps. Think of gold, not curses. Treasure found where X marks the spot—if only the map would stop changing. Dreamscapes shift even as you move, your mind unable to recall details from moment to moment. One day, even Earth will be a forgotten spec in the vastness of space. Will we be around to remember it?
This contest invites you to explore forgotten lands, whatever that means to you. Fantasy, contemporary, romance, crime. All genres are welcome.
Submissions close September 30th at 11:59 pm EST. Contest only open to new writers.
Share on
Meet the Judge
Django Wexler
Django Wexler is the author of flintlock fantasy series The Shadow Campaigns, middle grade fantasy The Forbidden Library, and YA fantasy The Wells of Sorcery. His latest is epic fantasy Blood of the Chosen. In his former life as a software engineer, he worked on AI research and programming languages. He currently lives near Seattle with his wife, daughter, four cats, and a teetering mountain of books. When not writing, he wrangles computers, paints tiny soldiers, and plays games of all sorts.
Learn more about Django and read his books at:
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 September 1st.
The contest closes at 11:59 pm EST on September 30th.
Winners will be announced on November 1st.
Entries:
Unlimited. English language only. Must follow the contest theme/prompt and include the word “bone”.
Length:
Minimum 500 words. Maximum 2000. Word count does not include title of work.
Head Judge:
Django Wexler
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.