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Small Bites Short Story

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Accepting submissions from November 1st to January 31st

Entry Fee: $25

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.

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We are accepting the following genres:

  • Narrative Fiction

  • Historical Fiction

  • Suspense/Thrillers

  • Science Fiction

  • Dystopian

  • Steampunk

  • Fantasy

  • Urban Fantasy

  • Mystery

  • Paranormal

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

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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 submission per author

  • 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  author identifying information to be removed to curb bias while judging the stories

    • This helps keep the judging fair and remove 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

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

Button will become active Nov 1, 2025
Submit Your Entry Here

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

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE MAY 2024 AUTHOR RETREAT & AWARDS PHOTO PAGE
VISIT LAST YEAR'S WINNERS PAGE

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 our Writer’s Retreat Weekend and Awards Dinner the first weekend in June.

    • If the author attends the retreat 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 registry]

    • One free print copy of the anthology

  • Invitation to our Writer’s Retreat Weekend and Awards Dinner the first weekend in June.

    • If the author attends the retreat, 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 our Writer’s Retreat Weekend and Awards Dinner the first weekend in June.

    • If the author attends the Awards Dinner, they will receive their award certificate in person

  • Digital award medallion and a downloadable PDF award certificate

  • Cash Award

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***All Cash Awards are subject to the number of submissions.

Amount to be announced in the awards notification email.***

Button will become active Nov 1, 2025
Submit Your Entry Here

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

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