The Writer's Games A project of The Writer's Workout (see other related projects). About THE WRITER'S GAMES is a writing competition with a global reach. For six consecutive weeks, registered participants create short stories that meet the challenges (Events) announced for the week. Each Event lasts 72 hours and no one knows what that week's challenge might be until the clock starts. While the first Event is for practice, the following five Event winners are published in the Writer's Games anthology. Competition is fierce (but friendly!). No Fees! This contest does not charge mandatory fees. Important: Entrants must register in advance. Registration is limited and first come, first served. Entries must be written during the event time period. Submission Caps: They may close to submissions early if they reach their quota. Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 2014 Publication Media & Contest Frequency Electronic Publication Electronic PublicationAwarded 1 x per yearPrint Publication Print PublicationAwarded 1 x per year AI Policy Human-created work only; no AI use allowed Fiction Temp Closed Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: Open to all/most Genres, including: GeneralLengths: Short Story: No specific word count limits known (our definition: 1000 to 7500 words).Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream.Topics: Other: May vary.Winner's Prize:No monetary payment No monetary payment.Submissions:Method: Email. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are NOT allowed.Multiple entries: Multiple entries are allowed.Media: Text. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary. Go to contest webpage Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:X (Twitter) @writersworkout Support this Publisher: Support on Ko-fi For the Editor(s): Request Interview Link to Duotrope The Writer's Games Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. We have not received any submission reports for this listing in the past 12 months. Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Related ProjectsFiction Potluck ContestOur Pandemic Anthology CLOSEDTales Anthology SeriesWayWords Literary JournalWrite Track Competition CLOSED Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 22 Jul 2026We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year. Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only