January, 2026

Event Details
The Story Unlikely Annual Short Story Contest is back, and for their 5th year, the organizer is giving away $5,000. Story Unlikely is looking for great stories regardless
Event Details
The Story Unlikely Annual Short Story Contest is back, and for their 5th year, the organizer is giving away $5,000. Story Unlikely is looking for great stories regardless of genre or author pedigree. Unlike other outlets, they are laser-focused on the quality of the writing, not the author’s background (or social media following). Can you tell a good story? Consider taking part.
The story itself cannot exceed 7,000 words. There are no restrictions on age or location of participant.
Prizes:
- $3,000 first place
- $1,000 second place
- $750 third place
The winning story will be featured on Story Unlikely’s website, and will be strongly considered for their annual (print) sample magazine, which means a lot of exposure to the winner. All three placing stories will be published in the monthly issue, and all three will be illustrated by real, professional, human artists!
The submission period runs from October 14th through January 14th.
Is this competition legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any event, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work.
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