Welcome
Welcome to the homepage of the Fantasy-Faction Anthology and the annual Fantasy Writing Contest.With the Fantasy-Faction Anthology, we are looking to do things a little differently than what you may be expecting. Unlike many anthologies out there that tend to be filled solely with already famous names, we want to be the place where those famous names are made. From January 1st 2012 through until June 30th 2012 we held an open writing contest, inviting anyone in the World to send us a story for consideration to be published alongside some of the World’s most recognised Fantasy authors.
When all was said and done we had received over 1700 submissions of stories up to 8,000 words. The average story was around 6,000 words, which means that the judges are now reading through, roughly, 10,200,000 words – impressive, right? Well, some people may feel sorry for them, some people may think that it sounds like a lot of hard work… Well, you’d be wrong! The three Judges: Marc Aplin, Paul Wiseall and Jennifer Ivins love fantasy. Reading fantasy is something they believe they were born to do and, for them, it is an absolute pleasure and honour to have so many authors send them work for a book they are putting together.
The fact that 1700 stories have been written for this contest makes the whole thing worth while. The highlight of the whole process was the feedback from those who had created those new characters and new worlds and placed them into story-making situations. Tweets such as the following have touched our hearts and we’d like to thank each and every person who entered:
@FantasyFaction I wish to thank you for motivating me to write my veryfirst fantasy story. You opened a new perspective for me
. Kisses.
Why did you start the Fantasy Writing Contest?
Every day at Fantasy-Faction, we come across truly fantastic fantasy stories from unpublished authors who are struggling to get noticed by a publisher. That is why we have decided to take matters in to our own hands and be the ones to offer you the chance to be published and also win yourself $500 in the process. Best of all, it’s completely free!
What will the Fantasy-Faction anthology be?
For the Reader: We aim to bring you the greatest new and undiscovered fantasy stories to be found anywhere on the planet. Stories that will not just entertain you, but also give you a glimpse into the future. This collection will be a look at the fantasy authors who are currently crafting new worlds for you to escape into and whose books will soon be adorning your bookshelves. This isn’t all though, the anthology will also showcase exclusive articles from some of the most loved and revered authors on the planet. But, that’s another story – Stay tuned.
For the Writer: Through the annual Fantasy Writing Contest, we aim to provide you an opportunity to not only get your story and name (that’s an important one) in print but also to showcase your work and gain the recognition that could propel you towards a career in writing. On top of this, we are offering cash prizes for the top three stories.
Who will fill this anthology with wonderment?
You! Whether you’ve been working for years to get published or have never before put pen to paper, we want you to submit your fantasy story to us. Of course, there are rules (for what is life without rules?). You can find those and a bunch of other handy information on this site. However, the most important thing to keep in mind is that we want your fantasy stories. This means any kind of fantasy from swords and sorcery to steampunk. In fact, the only kind of fantasy we don’t want is the kind you buy from a top shelf and smuggle home in a paper bag. Keep that kind of fantasy buried in the bottom of your underwear drawer please.
Will there definitely be another Writing Contest?
Yes! Next year the Fantasy Writing Contest will return. This year (2012) we decided to go with an anthology that would allow us to show readers the bredth of the genre. This book will be huge and it will offer readers everything from Epic Fantasy to Urban Fantasy through to Sci-Fi Crossover pieces. Next year though, things will be a little different. Next year we are going to introduce themes. ‘Guns and Dragons’ has been named as one possibility, ‘Modern Faerie Tales’ is another. The only way you will find out is by checking back here or following us on Twitter!
We will be accepting story submissions from:
1 January 2013
http://fantasywritingcontest.com/