Ink & Consequences: Theme: New Beginnings Gold Star Program Gold Star Free Tip Jar Option

Every ending creates the possibility of a beginning. While stories may be set around the New Year, they do not have to be. New beginnings can happen on any day of the year. We are looking for stories about characters at a crossroads, deciding what comes next. Whether they are rebuilding after tragedy, starting over in a new place, or pursuing a long-delayed dream, something new should emerge because of the choices they make.

The choice must be real.

By that, we mean the choice must have meaningful consequences. The choice between pancakes and waffles is not the point; the choice between staying and leaving is. A new beginning should require something of the character. It should involve risk, sacrifice, uncertainty, or change. The outcome does not have to be positive, but the decision should matter. If the choice were removed from the story, the story itself would be fundamentally different.

Don't just take us to the threshold of a new beginning. Take us through it. Show us what changes.

Original short fiction only Maximum 6,000 words One story per submission No fan fiction No poetry No novellas or novels Submit as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx) Begin with a blank first page Do not include your name or identifying information in the manuscript All submissions are evaluated blind