Update, October 1, 2020: This contest is now closed and we are no longer accepting entries.
Update, October 25, 2020: Due to an overwhelming response and an unexpectedly large number of entries for eShe’s Short Story Contest 2020, results have been delayed. They will now be out on October 29, 2020.
Do you have a talent for spinning stories and always wanted to be a published author? Get writing! eShe is delighted to present Short Story Contest 2020 for women writers in association with Embassy Books.
Jury includes one of India’s highest-selling authors, Preeti Shenoy.
Twenty winners will be published in a book of short stories in early 2021!
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Theme: A life-changing experience (fiction)
Language: English
Word count: 1800 – 2000 words
Author eligibility: Women writers age 18 and above, residents of India
Original and unpublished work only
Only one submission per writer allowed (please do not send pieces submitted elsewhere)
Submission format: Email your story in a Word document (no other format will be accepted). The Word document must also contain:
(1) The title of the piece
(2) Your name
(3) Your email
(4) Your postal address with pin code
(5) Your phone number
Email subject line: “Short story by (your name)”
Email your entry to: kaveri@eshe.in
Submission deadline: 11.59 pm on September 30, 2020
RESULTS
Results will be announced on October 25, 2020.
20 winners will be published in a book of short stories by Embassy Books to be released in the first quarter of 2021.
All winners will receive two copies of the published book + a merit certificate and notebook from eShe. Winners will be asked to sign a publishing contract.
JURY
Preeti Shenoy, award-winning author of 13 bestsellers, ranked one of India’s highest selling authors and most influential celebrities
Aruna Joshi, author and chief editor of Embassy Books
Aekta Kapoor, editor and publisher of eShe magazine
eShe 
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Is it ok if the word count of the story is lesser then 1800.
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No, sorry, it will be disqualified.
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Will the word limit be counted strictly according to MS Word count or by including only content words?
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Hello, the story itself should be between 1800 to 2000 words. The other information in the word document (title, name, address etc) will not be counted.
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Hey! thanks for replying. But I am asking for ‘story’ only. How will be the number of words counted- using MS Word count(which also counts words such as a, an, the) or considering only content words and leaving words like a, an, the, etc?
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Yes, MS Word count will be applied, including all words.
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Does the story necessarily be centered around women’s experience?
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No, not at all! As long as you follow all the other guidelines, please let your imagination go wild 🙂
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We have to write life changing experiences in our life(as an essay) or we can show it by using different characters as a story ?
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Hello! It’s a fiction contest so you don’t have to write about your own life or any other real-life incident. Go ahead and let your imagination take you places, draw up fictional characters and situations!
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Is there any participation certificate?
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Hi! No there isn’t any participation certificate. It will only be given to the 20 winners.
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Dear Sir/Madam, I have just posted my entry for short story contest. Did you receive it, and is it alright ?
Thanks.
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Hello Kulsum, if your entry was in the correct format as per the submission guidelines, you will immediately get a confirmation email. Else someone will have to check your document and reply manually. Please give us 12-24 hours to do so in case you do not get an automatic confirmation email. Thank you.
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Is fan fiction allowed?
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Yes, give it a shot! Do stick to the other guidelines though. 🙂
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Can we include fictions as well on the same theme?
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Yes, Rose! It’s a fiction writing contest.
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