The Path Not Taken Writing Competition

The Path Not Taken Writing Competition is a creative writing challenge exploring stories about regrets that the main character has had in the past. You can take this theme as broad as you want, but you must keep the main theme the same. All entries must be child-friendly to ages 12. No swearing or other inappropriate content.

Entries must be original, unpublished, and connect to the theme. Only one entry per participant is accepted. Recommended length is 500–1,000 words. Fiction stories only. Poetry is allowed. Submissions may be sent as PDFs only. See website for info about how to send in your entry.

Prizes:

• 1st place receives an Octo Books T-shirt featuring the wording: Path Not Taken Writing Competition Winner Octo Books 2026, publication on the Octo Books website, a certificate, and official recognition as the first place winner.
• 2nd place receives an Octo Books magnet, a certificate, and recognition as second place on the website.
• 3rd place receives an Octo Books magnet, a certificate, and recognition as third place on the website.

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.

FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.

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