Call for Writers: Animaga Short Story Writing Competition!

Calling all authors, creative writers, and storytellers! Do you have a passion for crafting engaging narratives, memorable characters, and vivid worlds? We are thrilled to announce the Animaga Short Story Writing Competition for 2026!

Whether you love warm slice-of-life moments or high-stakes competitive drama, this is your chance to showcase your writing talent, share your work with the Animaga community, and win prizes to fuel your reading addiction.

Choose Your Writing Prompt

Entrants are invited to submit an original short story centered around one of the following two themes:

1. 🍲 “A Hearty Meal” — Explore comfort, connection, fantasy banquets, or quiet moments shared over food.

2. 🏆 “The Underdog Sportstar” — Build the excitement of an unexpected triumph, rivalries, teamwork, and pushing past limits.

📅 Key Dates & Timeline

• Submission Window: 9 July 2026 – 14 August 2026 (closing at 23:59 AEST)

• Results Announcement: 21 August 2026

All entries will be reviewed and voted on internally by the Animaga Staff team!

🏆 Prizes & Categories

We are awarding Kinokuniya Gift Cards across three main winning categories:

• Judges’ Choice (Either Prompt): $50 Kinokuniya Gift Card

• “A Hearty Meal” Winner: $50 Kinokuniya Gift Card

• “The Underdog Sportstar” Winner: $50 Kinokuniya Gift Card

📋 Rules & Eligibility Criteria

Before submitting your story, please make sure your entry meets all of our official contest guidelines:

• How to Enter: Submit your work online via our Google Form Submission Link or bring a physical copy onsite directly to the Trivia Area during the convention.

• Submission Limits: Maximum of one (1) entry per prompt per creator. If you enter both prompts, please note that a single creator can only win one prize.

• Word Limit: Hard limit of 6,000 words maximum (recommended range: 4,500 – 6,000 words).

• Originality & Rating: Works must be 100% original, written exclusively for this contest, and suitable for All Ages (SFW).

• Strict AI Policy: Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is strictly prohibited. Use of AI tools at any stage of writing or editing will result in immediate disqualification.

• Under 18 Contestants: Minors must obtain explicit consent from a parent or legal guardian to enter.

• Copyright & Usage: Creators retain full copyright of their original work. Animaga reserves non-exclusive rights to share entries for event promotional purposes (excluding direct sales or commercial exploitation without prior consent).

Ready to Submit Your Entry?

Flex your creative writing muscles and get your story in before the deadline on August 14th at 23:59 AEST!

👉 Submit Your Story here

We can’t wait to read your submissions and discover the amazing stories you bring to life!