Submission Deadline April 1, 2026

The Short Story Writing Contest is a short-form writing competition operated by Ember & Vine Press in cooperation with Story Summit.

Writers can enter in one or both of the two categories:

• Fiction
• Creative Nonfiction

Must be 18 years or older.

THEME: Short story or short-form essay inspired by the spark of Ember and the growth of Vine, which means let your imagination go wild (seriously whatever lights your fire)! Show us what inspires you, what makes you grow, or where you want to expand. Write about growing up, growing old, or maybe growing excited or tired. Tell us a story that makes you smile or cry.

Two cash prizes will be awarded in each category:

• Judges’ Choice ($200)
• Judges’ Runner-Up ($100)

All four winning stories will be published in an anthology by Ember & Vine Press, which will include a foreword by this year’s celebrity author (to be announced). An additional ten to fifteen top entries in each category will also be published in the anthology.

In cooperation with the author, each entry will be edited and proofread before publication.

How it works

• Writers purchase their entry (secure your slot early to take advantage of the discount)
• Then writers can submit their short-form entry after completing an online registration form and paying the nonrefundable $30 registration fee online.
• All entries must be submitted by April 1, 2026.
• Ember and Vine team members will evaluate each entry.
• Winners are announced via email and on both the Ember & Vine Website and the StorySummit Facebook page on July 1, 2026.
• Winners are published in an Ember & Vine anthology, available November 1, 2026.
• Purchasing books is not a requirement to enter the contest.

Benefits

• The Ember & Vine publication will include a foreword by a best-selling author.
• Social media interviews with all authors chosen for publication.
• Editing from professional editors.
• All published authors receive one copy of the publication and an author discount for additional copies.
• Zoom award ceremony during which the winners will be announced and invited to read a portion of their winning stories.
• Two monetary prize awards for each category.
• PR and promotion in the industry.

Requirements

• Maximum length: 3,000 words.
• Submissions must be in a MS Word Doc, 12-point Times New Roman type, double-spaced. We aim for this contest to be judged blindly and impartially. For that reason, please do NOT include the author’s name/identifying information in the MS Word document.
• Work cannot infringe on third-party rights; that is, copyright isn’t owned by another entity. Copyrighted characters are not allowed.
• Submitted work must be original and wholly owned by the author. Submissions should not have been previously published in print or online.
• Online registration only.
• Fill out online registration completely, including email address and phone number.
• Permission to publish winning short stories in book form and online will be required at submission. Exclusive rights will be given to Ember & Vine for one year from publication date, with non-exclusive rights following.
• Please note that semifinalist entries are reviewed for plagiarism and/or previous publication.
• Purchasing books is not required to enter the contest.
• No AI content please. We value human creativity and aim to celebrate the literary arts in their most authentic form.
• Entry registers writer to the Ember & Vine Newsletter.

Terms of Service

Agreement to the Terms of Service is required at submission.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Author shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Ember and Vine Press, LLC or Story Summit, hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Contest Sponsors,” including all of their employees and agents, from and against all losses, liabilities, penalties, fines, damages and claims and all related costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and costs of investigation, litigation, settlement, judgments, interest and penalties), and also including any claims of infringement of United States copyright or other proprietary right of any person or entity, which right is enforceable under the laws of the United States, arising from or in connection with her or his participation in the Ember & Vine Short Story Writing Contest.

The Contest Sponsors shall hold an exclusive right to publish the winning Works in all physical and digital formats for a period of one year from the date the contest winners are announced. Following that period, the Author may republish their own submitted Work with any person or entity of his or her choosing. The Author agrees that the Contest Sponsors shall maintain their co-equal copyright in the said Work in perpetuity, but Contest Sponsors waive their right to benefit from any third party republishing of the Work.

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