Can you write 12 Short Stories in 12 Months?
#HarnessWriting began in 2019 when we noticed writers at Penmancy boldly expanding their creative horizons and exploring broader storytelling landscapes. Now, it’s your turn to join this inspiring league of storytellers, many of whom have earned recognition and accolades along the way.
Take on the challenge: write 12 short stories in 12 consecutive months within a year, and proudly earn your badge as a Harness Writing Challenger!
How does it work?
- This is a FREE challenge.
- Submit one short story (2500-3500 words) per month for 12 consecutive months (begins from January 2025).
- Read five other stories and encourage fellow writers.
- Join our transparent and supportive writing community.
- Build a writing routine and improve your confidence.
What is included in the challenge?
Once you sign up for the challenge you will:
- Have a profile on Penmancy website.
- This profile grants you access to writing 12 short stories for the #HarnessWriting Challenge.
- A prompt is published once a month on the 1st day.
- The submitted story must be between 2500-3500 words (each).
- There is no limit to the number of entries you may submit for the prompt. However, only the first one of them will be eligible for the contest.
- Previously published or plagiarised works will not be considered for contention. The writer of such content stands to be disqualified for the next Penmancy event.
- AI generated content stands invalid for the contest. Repeated offenders will be barred from participation in Penmancy events.
- Stories found to have been shared on another writing platform or blog before the declaration of results stand disqualified from the event. Kindly check the Terms of Use for details. You may share the story on your blog with a backlink to Penmancy’s original published post.
- In case a story is received after the submission deadline, it shall be considered as a guest entry and shall not qualify for the contest.
- By writing 12 short stories in a year, you will add +40,000 words to your word count for the year. Isn’t that something?
- All writers are required to read and comment on five stories other than their own and encourage their fellow writers with valuable and constructive inputs.
- Allow your story to be admin approved within 24-48 hours after your submission.
Prompts
The prompt is published on the first day of every month. You have one month to write a short story that relates to the prompt/theme in some way. The theme/prompt is a guide, and you may write in any genre. Please mind the word count (exclusive of the title and glossary/author note). Normally, the prompt is theme based which is meant to jump start your ideas.
Deadlines
The deadline for the submission is 30th or 31st of the month (relative). The submission window closes at 23:59 hrs.
Every month you will post one story (additional stories are permissible, but only the first one stands to contest) and you will comment on five stories of other writers.
Receiving feedback:
You have shown immense courage by bringing your work for public scrutiny and critique. This is a big step for any writer to take. We celebrate each step that you take towards your writing goals. And receiving feedback is a necessary step to take. Penmancy team provides constructive inputs/suggestions on your story and shares it for you on the Community Page.
Giving feedback:
Since you are going to be reading five (or more) stories of fellow writers, we expect that you value their efforts and provide them with useful inputs. Comments like ‘nice’, ‘good work’, ‘brilliant piece’, etc., do not provide the necessary critique and are not helpful to anyone. This is an incredibly valuable aspect of this challenge. By reading and giving feedback, you'll sharpen your critical analysis skills and start applying theory in a practical, meaningful way.
Winning Criteria:
The winner will be chosen on the basis of the scores (out of 10)
- plot/story/creativity (15 points)
- language/grammar (10 points)
- narrative voice & content (9 points)
- emotional impact, (8 points)
- characterisation (8 points)
The entries adjudged by event organisers shall be binding. The scores to be deemed final and may not be contested or sought from the Penmancy team.
Still doubtful? Check the Frequently Asked Questions that might help
