Call for Submissions

2025 gritLIT Short Story Contest

Connections: Crafting Stories in Three Acts

We are now accepting submissions of original fiction or creative non-fiction (up to 500 words) for the 2025 gritLIT Short Story Writing Contest. Please note, scripts and poetry are not eligible.

Theme: CONNECTION—interpret this theme creatively to explore what connection means to you! This year introduces a new staged writing challenge: successful longlisted entries will be invited to expand their stories. Please read the submission rules carefully, especially the Writing Stages section.

• Deadline: January 15, 2025

• Entry Fee: $15

• Prizes:

  • First Place: $500

  • Two Honourable Mentions: $150 each

• Additional Rewards: All winners will be invited to read at gritLIT 2025 in April. Winning stories will be published on the gritLIT website.

Contest Rules

• Originality: Submissions must be original, unpublished works of fiction or creative non-fiction of up to 500 words.

• Unpublished Work: Entries must not have been previously published in any form, including online platforms like blogs or social media.

• AI Policy: AI-written or -edited pieces are not permitted and will be investigated.

• Formatting: Submissions should be double-spaced and use a standard 12-point font (e.g., Calibri, Arial, Times New Roman, or Courier).

• Submission: Please CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT by 11:59 PM on January 15, 2025. Accepted file formats: Word (.doc or .docx), PDF (.pdf), or Plain Text (.txt).

• Form Completion: All sections of the submission form must be completed.

• Entry Fee Processing: Authors will receive a PayPal invoice for the entry fee. Entries are not officially submitted until the fee is paid. Please allow time for processing due to our small administrative staff.

Writing Stages

Stage 1: The Hook or Setup

• Concept: Think of the contest as crafting a three-act story.

• Initial Submission: Your first piece (up to 500 words) serves as the “hook” to engage judges and earn an invitation to the next stage.

• Judging: All entries are judged anonymously by at least two preliminary judges. Approximately 20 entrants will be longlisted.

• Anonymity: Do not include your name anywhere in your story file.

Stage 2: The Midpoint or Confrontation

• Announcement: Longlisted authors will be announced on our social media channels and website.

• Expansion Prompt: Longlisted entrants will receive by email a prompt to expand their stories (500–750 words), maintaining the CONNECTION theme and incorporating an integral element like an obstacle, a focus on a specific sense, or an emotion.

• Guidelines: Build upon your Stage 1 submission without altering it—ensure your initial entry leaves room to grow.

Stage 3: The Finale

• Shortlisting: From the longlist the top 10 stories will be shortlisted and announced as before.

• Final Prompt: Shortlisted authors will receive a final prompt to further expand their stories under similar parameters.

• Final Judging: Final submissions will be evaluated by our 2025 gritLIT Short Story Contest Judge, Amy Jones.

• Notification: Winners will be contacted by March 15, 2025.

• Publication Rights: Winning authors agree to have their stories published on the gritLIT website. Copyright reverts to the author thereafter.

Happy Writing!