This Submittable coordinates submissions for both the Parsec Short Story Contest and the Parsec Ink Triangulation anthology. Please make sure you correctly choose the entity you are submitting your story to. Theme, word count, and deadlines are different for each entity.
The Parsec Short Story Contest is sponsored by Parsec Inc., the 501(c)(3) parent organization.
Triangulation is curated by Parsec Ink, a standing committee of Parsec Inc.
Hello, and welcome to the PARSEC 2024 short story contest, YOUTH STORY portal.
The theme for this year is A.I. Mythology!
Whatever our feelings on AI, we can't escape the fact that it's here and that its influence is growing. This prompt invites the writers to imagine what sorts of mythology might be developed in response to the growth, as well as what sort of mythology AIs might write about themselves.
Please note, this is a Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror contest. I want to emphasize that any sort of "artificially created intelligence" qualifies--it doesn't strictly need to be through technological advancement! (Hex from Discworld comes to mind, or the Archive from the Dresden Files. Both artificial constructs are born from magic rather than tech!)
Please note: Even though the theme is AI, we do not wish to see stories written by AI! We trust those of you who choose to submit to honor this request!
Publication status: Stories must be original, unpublished and unsold to any other market.
Formatting: Manuscripts should be in double-spaced, and written in a legible font. Acceptable formats include .doc, .docx, and .rtf. Stories that do not follow the double spacing requirement will be disqualified.
Please also include an email address in the header. Submittable messages sometimes get flagged as spam. Having an email address in the document can help the contest coordinator reach out if needed!
Youth Story Eligibility: The contest is open to non-professional writers-- those who have not met eligibility requirements for SFWA or equivalent. Anyone age 19 and under (as long as they are still enrolled in high school) may submit stories for the Youth Story prize. Submissions must follow all other Parsec contest requirements.
Previous first-place winners and current contest coordinators are ineligible to enter.
Requirements: The winning story will be the one that most effectively uses the contest theme(s) as a key element.
Word Count: Stories should be less than 3500 words. Stories longer than this will be immediately disqualified.
Number: A maximum of 2 submissions is allowed. Submit each one separately. If multiple documents are submitted in one submission, only the first one in the single submission will be read.
Dates and Deadlines: The Contest opens January 1st and will close on March 31st.
Process for YOUTH STORY: Winner will be chosen by the Short Story contest first readers. Winners will be notified after March 31st and then announced during the Confluence Conference. Winning story may be printed in the Confluence program book.
Submission to the contest implies consent for publication in the Confluence program book, but all rights revert immediately to the author upon publication.
Best Youth Story: Winner receives $50
Have questions? Visit the FAQ's page of the Parsec website
Hello, and welcome to the PARSEC 2024 short story contest.
The theme for this year is A.I. Mythology!
Whatever our feelings on AI, we can't escape the fact that it's here and that its influence is growing. This prompt invites the writers to imagine what sorts of mythology might be developed in response to the growth, as well as what sort of mythology AIs might write about themselves.
Please note, this is a Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror contest. I want to emphasize that any sort of "artificially created intelligence" qualifies--it doesn't strictly need to be through technological advancement! (Hex from Discworld comes to mind, or the Archive from the Dresden Files. Both artificial constructs are born from magic rather than tech!)
Please note: Even though the theme is AI, we do not wish to see stories written by AI! We trust those of you who choose to submit to honor this request!
Publication status: Stories must be original, unpublished and unsold to any other market.
Formatting: Manuscripts should be in double-spaced, and written in a legible font. Acceptable formats include .doc, .docx, and .rtf. Stories that do not follow the double spacing requirement will be disqualified.
Please also include an email address in the header. Submittable messages sometimes get flagged as spam. Having an email address in the document can help the contest coordinator reach out if needed!
Eligibility: The contest is open to non-professional writers-- those who have not met eligibility requirements for SFWA or equivalent. Broad strokes, if you have earned more than $1000 through selling your writing, you are ineligible to participate.
Previous first-place winners and current contest coordinators are ineligible to enter.
Requirements: The winning story will be the one that most effectively uses the contest theme(s) as a key element.
Word Count: Stories should be less than 3500 words. Stories longer than this will be immediately disqualified.
Number: A maximum of 2 submissions is allowed. Submit each one separately. If multiple documents are submitted in one submission, only the first one in the single submission will be read.
Dates and Deadlines: The Contest opens January 1st and will close on March 31st. Stories will be forwarded to the judges by May 1st, with their decisions being received by May 21st. Winners will be notified and then announced during the Confluence Conference.
Process: Coordinators/Readers screen the entries and the Seven best submissions are then read by the judges. Decisions of the judges and coordinators are final.
Submission to the contest implies consent for publication in the Confluence program book, but all rights revert immediately to the author upon publication.
Awards:
- First-place receives $200 and publication in the Confluence program book.
- Second-place receives $100
- Third-place receives $50
Good luck, and watch the Parsec website for the announcement of the judges!
Youth Story Submissions:
We have, over the last several years, seen a large growth in submissions from high school students (as well as some from middle school authors, and even a few grade schoolers!) To that end, we are offering an additional side prize of $50 for the best story submitted by someone aged 19 and under (that is still attending high school). The winner will be chosen by the first readers!
Please submit your Youth Story via the "Youth Story Portal."
Have questions? Visit the FAQ's page of the Parsec website