Small Bites Short Story Contest

Ready to Make a Big Impact with a Small Bite?

Welcome to the Small Bites Short Story Contest, where silence meets tension and the unsaid becomes the spark that drives your story. Whether you're a debut storyteller or a seasoned scribe, this is your chance to craft a tale that lingers long after the final line — all in 5,000 words or less.

From suspense to steampunk, we’re seeking original stories shaped by omission, hesitation, or truths left unspoken. Winners earn cash prizes, anthology placement, and a chance to join our publishing family—plus an invitation to the Inklight Festival in June.

One secret. One held breath. One moment that changes everything.

Accepting submissions from November 1st to January 31st

Entry Fee: $25

This year’s Small Bites theme—Things Unsaid— invites authors across all accepted genres to explore the power of silence, omission, and the moments where words fail us. Whether it’s a truth withheld, a confession swallowed, or a revelation avoided for just a little too long, this prompt challenges writers to capture the tension and transformation that live in the spaces between what is spoken and what is not. From fantasy to suspense, historical fiction to sci‑fi, every genre offers a unique lens on what happens when the quiet deepens, the pressure builds, and the unsaid refuses to stay buried.

Open to all authors, including first-time authors, around the world. We are accepting original short stories of 5000 words or less, written in English that have not been previously published.

We are accepting the following genres:

Narrative Fiction

Historical Fiction

Suspense/Thrillers

Science Fiction

Dystopian

Steampunk

Fantasy

Urban Fantasy

Mystery

Paranormal

Narrative NonFiction

A pause in the doorway. A truth caught in the throat.

What will your silence reveal?

*** Grand Prize winner will be selected from 1st place winners in each genre ***

Submit your short story for this exciting opportunity and have it considered for cash prizes, awards, inclusion in the Small Bites anthology, a publishing contract with Indies United, literary exposure, and other exciting prizes.

When submitting your short story:

Only one story per submission
Must be publishing ready – No rough drafts
Must be in PDF format
No information that would identify the author within the PDF
- We ask for the author's identifying information to be removed to curb bias while judging the stories
- This helps keep the judging fair and removes unconscious bias from the process
- When your story is submitted, we remove your name from the document and assign it a number before sending the story to our judges
- Your name and other contact information is kept in a separate document that is not shared with the judges
PDF file name should be set up as follows: Last Name, First Name – Story Title – Genre
Payment must be made at the time of submission

Winners will be notified in March. We wish you success with your submission.

Contest Closed until 11/01/2026

***please ensure payment is made AFTER completing this form and clicking on the SUBMIT button.***

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE JUNE 2025 AUTHOR RETREAT & AWARDS PHOTO PAGE

VISIT LAST YEAR'S WINNERS PAGE

CLICK HERE TO FIND LAST YEAR'S ANTHOLOGY, EXPOSED & OTHER SMALL BITES STORIES

*Note: Starting in 2026, our annual retreat and awards celebration will be part of the newly rebranded Inklight Festival—a signature experience for writers & readers.

AWARDS:

Grand Prize Winner Receives:

An invitation to join Indies United Publishing House
Their short story listed first in an anthology published by Indies United
- The book will be registered with the Library of Congress [all authors will be annotated in the anthology with the Library of Congress upon registry]
- One free print copy of the anthology
Invitation to the Inklight Festival and Awards Dinner, the first weekend in June.
- If the author attends the festival, they will;
  - receive their award in person during the Awards Dinner
  - all fees for attendance will be waived [does not include lodging or travel expenses]
Digital award medallion and a downloadable PDF award certificate
Cash Award

Second Place Winner in Genre Receives:

Invitation to join Indies United Publishing House
Short story published in an anthology by Indies United
- The book will be registered with the Library of Congress [all authors will be annotated in the anthology with the Library of Congress upon registration]
- One free print copy of the anthology
Invitation to the Inklight Festival and Awards Dinner, the first weekend in June.
- If the author attends the festival, they will receive their award certificate in person
Digital award medallion and a downloadable PDF award certificate
Cash Award

Third Place Winner in Genre Receives:

Invitation to the Inklight Festival and Awards Dinner, the first weekend in June.
- If the author attends the festival, they will receive their award certificate in person
Digital award medallion and a downloadable PDF award certificate
Cash Award