The 500-word Fiction Challenge 2024
The 500-word Fiction Challenge is an international creative writing competition, now in its 2nd year, that challenges participants to create short stories based on genre, action, and object assignments in 48 hours. The event is organized by NYC Midnight Movie Making Madness, an organization founded in 2002 with the mission to discover and promote a new wave of talented storytellers. Through inspiring and challenging writing competitions, NYC Midnight aims to provide the prizes and exposure necessary for writers to take their next big step toward writing professionally.
NYC Midnight
If you want to enter this, be quick! And also make sure you read the instructions very carefully. There are multiple rounds, starting on 12 July, continuing, if you’re successful, throughout the year.
There is an early bird entry fee of US$39 until 13 June 2024; the fee increases to US$47 afterwards. You can get US$5 off the price for sharing to X or Facebook – check the website for more details.
If you don't fancy this competition, have a look at some other competitions.
Good luck! Let us know how you get on?
Warnings and disclaimers
Make sure you enter the right competition for you.
- The details given are, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of publication. We accept no responsibility for the accuracy of the information.
- Always check the details of competitions closely. Make sure you and your entry match any stipulated criteria.
- Watch out for fees and prize amounts. Avoid competitions with fees that don't offer a cash prize.
- Check the closing date. Try to enter earlier rather than later to give the judges time to read and appreciate your entry.
- Some competitions may refuse entries that have been entered in other competitions. They may ask you to withdraw that entry from those other competitions.
- Some competitions may refuse entries that have already been published, including publication online.
- Some publishers may refuse to publish writing that has already been published, even in competition results.
- Inclusion here is not an endorsement.
More advice on entering writing competitions can be found here: