Skip to Content

Uncharted Magazine Cinematic Short Story Contest

A project of Uncharted Magazine (see other related projects).

Do not submit here! This project is permanently closed to submissions (March 2025). We provide the following information as an archive.

About

For this short story contest, we want stories that feel immersive, like we walked out of our lives and into the technicolor settings and conflicts of your main characters. We want stories that use the array of our senses in new and exciting ways. We want stories with vitality and velocity that rely on swift cuts of action and reaction. Allow your characters to make good and bad choices and face the consequences in scene. Don’t let the camera look away!

Consider crafting your story based on the most important moments in your character’s life, and fully envelop us in these moments. Think of the opposites of shadow and light, and the gray areas in between, and write the stories we can’t look away from. We especially love stories that incorporate aspects of all genres, so consider how these combined elements might enhance your story. We’re drawn to stories that use their conflicts to create tension and resonance.

Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions. The fee is USD $20.

Country of Publication

United States

Publication Medium & Contest Frequency

Electronic Publication Electronic Publication
One-time contest

Fiction Closed

Audience:

Open to a broad Audience, including: Young adults.

Genres:

General Subgenre: Historical.
Fantasy Open to all/most Subgenres.
Horror Open to all/most Subgenres.
Mystery/Crime Open to all/most Subgenres.
Science Fiction Open to all/most Subgenres.
Suspense/Thriller Open to all/most Subgenres.

Lengths:

Flash Fiction: Up to 1,000 words.
Short Story: 1,000 - 5,000 words.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Mainstream.

Topics:

Open to all/most Topics.

Winner's Prize:

Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: USD $2,000 winning prize.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are 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.

Uncharted Magazine Cinematic Short Story Contest Submission Statistics Free Preview!

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.

Accuracy:
We have received 14 reports from 14 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information.
Days Reported:
34 min | 45.3 mean avg | 49.0 median | 82 max days (14.9 std dev)
Responses
92.86 %
Acceptances:
0.00 % No publication has a 0% acceptance rate. This data is based on submission reports sent to Duotrope, and we have not received reports of any acceptances yet.
Rejections:
92.86 % (45.3 avg. days per rejection) | 7.7 % personal, 84.6 % form, 7.7 % unspecified
Non-Responses
7.14 %
Lost/Returned:
-
Never Responded:
-
Withdrawals:
7.14 % (45.0 avg. days per withdrawal)
Pending
3 responses are pending (130 min | 130.3 mean avg | 130.0 median | 131 max days waiting | 0.6 std dev) from 3 different members This only includes pending reports from users who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days

Other Information

The most common submission fee paid: USD $20.00.
Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day.
Most recent response reported was received on 30 May 2025.
Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 10 Mar 2025.

Work submitted here was also submitted to...

This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!

Members accepted here also had work accepted by...

This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today!

Your Submissions

This section is available to subscribers only. Join today!

Historical Fiction Challenge CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
Refractions: Genre Flash Fiction Prize  Charges fees for all submissions
Uncharted Magazine
Uncharted Magazine Horror and Thriller Short Story Award DNQ  Charges fees for all submissions
Uncharted Magazine Horror Challenge  Charges fees for all submissions
Uncharted Magazine Novel Excerpt Prize  Charges fees for all submissions
Uncharted Magazine Short Story Award DNQ  Charges fees for all submissions
Uncharted Science Fiction & Fantasy First Chapter Prize DNQ  Charges fees for all submissions
Voyage Anthology Contest CLOSED  Charges fees for some submissions
Voyage Best Chapters Contest CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
Voyage Book-Pitch Contest CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
Voyage First Chapters Contest DNQ  Charges fees for all submissions
Voyage YA Open CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
Voyage YA Short Story Award CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions
Young Adults Write YA Contest CLOSED  Charges fees for all submissions

Before Submitting

We 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.

Dates

Last Updated: 11 Mar 2025
Date Added: 09 Feb 2025