The Ink-credibles: Participate in these unique writing competitions to publish your stories

Representation pic

Hell hath no fury like a woman…

Blaft Publications has put out a call for short story submissions with a singular theme: Women with Weapons. The indie publishing house is looking for short fiction - between 1000 to 8000 words - featuring women wielding weapons. While writers of any sex are welcome to enter the contest, the stories will need to not only decentre men, but also pass the reverse Bechdel test. Entries of 1000-8000 words can be sent.

Deadline: September 15
Prize: Rs 9000-11,000
To know more: @ blaftpublications

Khat for Mother Nature

Siddhartha Gigoo

If writing a short story or essay still intimidates you, why not dip your toes into the literary pool with a sweet letter to Mother Nature? India Post is back with its annual Dhai Akhar letter-writing competition. Citizens of any age can participate by posting a handwritten letter on the theme ‘A Letter to Mother Earth: My Promise to Protect Nature'. Entries can be written in English, Hindi or any regional language, either on an inland letter card (500 words) or on an A4 sheet (1000 words) mailed in an envelope addressed to the Chief Postmaster General of your respective postal circle.

Deadline: October 31
Prize: Rs 5000-50,000
To know more: indiapost.gov.in

Write in rainbow colours

These competitions, and the handsome prizes, should be more than enough incentive to push you to start writing! Pics/istock

Yoda Press and The Rainbow Literature Festival are inviting submissions for their first anthology on the intersection of queerness and disability. Entry is open to residents of India, particularly queer and trans writers, including writers with disabilities. Submissions may include personal essays, speculative non-fiction, political commentary, cultural criticism, and other narrative non-fiction forms limited to 2000-3000 words.

Deadline: September 15
Prize: To be determined
To know more: @rainbowlitfest

A story of one's own

The London Magazine Short Story Prize is also open for submissions. Winners will be published in The London Magazine, which has published the likes of Virginia Woolf and Raymond Carver. Yes, the competition is open to international entries, but be warned: there is a £12 entry fee. Students and low-income writers can enter for £6.

Deadline: October 18
Prize: Rs 44,000-1.1 lakh
To know more: @thelondonmagazine

The shortest story ever

The Hemlock Journal is calling for writers to send in one-sentence stories (maximum of 20 words). There is no entry fee.

Deadline: August 31
Prize: Rs 4700 + The Hemlock membership for a year
To know more: @thehemlockjournal

The big one

One of the most awaited writing competitions of the literary calendar, the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, came into controversy after three of the 2026 regional winners were accused of using AI in their submissions. Following the scandal, the submission window for the 2027 prize has been moved from September 2026 to January 2027. But this means more time for you to really hone that story in your saved files, or even get started on that idea that's been brewing in your head! Writers from Commonwealth nations can submit stories between 2000-5000 words. The overall winner will receive £5000 (Rs 5.6 lakh) and have their entry published.

To know more: @cwfcreatives on Instagram

‘Write the story you want to tell'

"Winning or being shortlisted certainly gives a writer visibility, but I think the real value goes beyond that," says Siddhartha Gigoo, who was much feted in literary circles after winning the 2015 Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Asia) for his short story, The Umbrella Man. He then went on to publish several books and win two books of poetry, as well as win more awards.

"Competitions push you to finish a story, polish it and actually send it into the world. They can also introduce your work to editors, publishers and new readers. More importantly, they make you part of a larger community of writers and readers," he says, also adding, "A prize can open a door, but what matters is what you do with that opportunity afterwards."

Here are his tips for emerging writers:

>> Write the story you want to tell, rather than the story you think a jury might want to read.
>> Read the guidelines carefully, respect the word limit, and revise your work as much as you can.
>> Give the story some time before you send it out, so you can return to it with fresh eyes.
>> Don't be discouraged by rejection. Love the rejections. There is no such thing as rejection in art. Writing competitions can be unpredictable, but every submission is also an opportunity to put your work out there and keep growing as a writer.

Rs 5.6 L
Reward for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize winner

Jan '27
New submission window for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize