romantasy short story challenge

Starting March 7, 2025

Think:

love, romance, enemies-to-lovers, morally grey characters, slow burn, 🌶️spice🌶️, one bed trope, forbidden love

what is a writing challenge?

A writing challenge is as a simple as that: it’s meant to challenge you in your writing. That means that you’ll have seven days to write a brand new short story that goes along with the theme of the challenge. All we will give you are a couple prompts & elements that you’ll need to include in your story, and the rest is up to you!

Our writing challenges are made specifically for fantasy writers of all skill-levels and expertise. This way, you get to participate in a challenge where you can write what you love to write the most: fantastical, magical worlds full of mythical creatures, enemies-to-lovers, and so much more.

This is for you if you:

🥀 Love fantasy and have also wanted to try your hand at writing it

🥀 Are in a creative rut and need some help getting out of it

🥀 Want to challenge yourself, push yourself out of your comfort zone

🥀 Are a seasoned writer or are brand new to it

🥀 Want to remember what’s it is like to just have fun with writing

🥀 Need something to help inspire your next writing project

🥀 Want to make more writer friends

🥀 Just like being creative and trying new things!!

How does it work?

1) Register. Once you register (just $38) through Submittable, you’ll receive a confirmation email. If you don’t see the email, make sure to check your spam folder. But don’t start writing just yet!

2) Challenge Start! At the time of the challenge start, you’ll receive an email with specific instructions including writing prompts, elements that must be included in the story, and uploading instructions.

3) Let your imagination run wild! This is your time to shine. To let your creativity have its way with you. To see what you can create in just 7 days with specific prompts.

4) Submit. After 7 days, it will be time to submit your story of 2,000 words or less. Look back to that email you received at the start of the challenge for your submission link.

5) Wait for results. Some would say this is the hardest part. Results will be announced approximately 3 months after the completion of the challenge.

Mark your calendar

Registration closes:

Friday, March 7th, 2025 @ 8:00 pm EST

Challenge starts:

Friday, March 7th, 2025 @ 9:00 pm EST

Challenge ends:

Friday, March 14th, 2025 @ 9:00 pm EST

Results will be announced by:

Mid-May, 2025

Do I need to be a serious writer to join?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

While we welcome established and practiced fantasy writers to join this challenge, it is just as suitable for someone who is brand-spankin’-new to writing. This challenge is meant to open your mind, get the creative juices flowing, and inspire you to explore your expression through writing.

Prizes

All winning stories will be published on the Forest & Fawn website

1st place

$1,800 cash prizE

Story + author featured in Story Circle on Instagram Live

6 months free-trial to the Forest & Fawn Writer’s Community

2nd place

$900 cash prize

Story + author featured in Story Circle on Instagram Live

3 months free-trial to the Forest & Fawn Writer’s Community

3rd place

$400 cash prizE

Story + author featured in Story Circle on Instagram Live

3 months free-trial to the Forest & Fawn Writer’s Community

4th-10th place

$100 cash prizE

1 month free-trial to the Forest & Fawn Writer’s Community

Why join?

  • You'll gain access to a private group where you can connect to all the other writers who are participating in the challenge.

    THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN THE FOREST & FAWN WRITER’S CORNER MEMBERSHIP

  • Join the F&F team for a creative writing workshop the week of the writing challenge. We’ll have some prompts prepared to help get the creative juices flowing before the challenge starts.

  • We are giving over $3,800 worth of prizes.

    • Cash prize

    • Free-trials to Writer’s Corner membership

    • Have your work published on the Forest & Fawn website

  • We know how valuable feedback is when you're a writer, so we will be providing you with feedback within several months after winners are announced!

  • The top 3 stories will have their stories published on the Forest & Fawn website (aka, a place where a lot of fantasy readers frequent)!

  • Whether you are already a seasoned fantasy writer or you've never written a single thing, this challenge is meant to push you into the unknown, try something new, and stretch your creativity muscle.

not feeling inspired?

Don’t worry. We got you.

We’re hosting a creative writing workshop exclusively for writing challenge participants on

wednesday, march 5 @ 7:00pm EST

We’ll have prompts ready to help get your creative juices flowing, let you take you ideas for a test run, and maybe even make a couple friends in the process.

If you’re new to writing, you might be very surprised what magic you might create in just seven days.

Meet the Review Panel

  • Sarah Lockwood

    Sarah (aka half of Forest & Fawn) is a booktoker/bookstagrammer who creates content on her favorite fantasy reads, womanhood, queerness, ane more. Her goal is to share her unfiltered, authentic self through her platform and build a community where people can laugh, relate to one another, and talk about their favorite things together.

    Sarah also runs an online community called Slumber Party where fantasy readers, swifties, and more can connect and make friends with each other from all over the world, as well as a book club for fantasy readers called the Book Fairies Book Club.

  • Alexandra Neri

    Alexandra (or Alli) is the other half of Forest & Fawn. She has a background in creative writing. A few years ago she decided to dabble in writing fantasy and hasn’t looked back yet. She is endlessly inspired by folklore , mythology, & archetypal wisdom. As a nurturing homebody, Alli finally gets to work her dream job by hosting writers on cozy retreats tucked away in the woods. Alli is also the host of the creative writing workshops inside Forest & Fawn’s Writer’s Corner.

    When she’s not writing or reading, she’s probably out watching her sheep graze in the orchard.

  • Nina Haines

    Nina Haines is a writer, freelance marketer & content creator, and the founder of the sapphic book club Sapph-Lit. With over seven years of experience in the influencer marketing industry, she has worked on the brand teams of Papier, Curology, Supergoop!, Package Free, amika, and Unbound. She is based in Brooklyn, New York and is currently working on her debut novel.

  • Gabriella Guava

    Gabriella Guava (who most people call Gabi) is a book-lover, content creator, and photographer from Chicago. She hosts a virtual romantasy book club with over 500 members, makes silly videos, and talks about her decision to leave teaching for a more creative career.

    To learn more or contact Gabi, visit https://www.gabriellaguava.com/

  • Molly Tullis

    Author of THE ROMANOV ORACLE and THE ASPHODEL SERIES

    Molly Tullis would have picked the Phantom of the Opera over Raoul and named her French bulldog Jean Valjean. She only believes in black clothing, red lipstick, and never turns down an iced coffee or tequila. She enjoys writing fantasy, romance, or any genre with an opportunity to insert a dark-haired, morally grey man. Her debut novel, The Romanov Oracle, was inspired by a love of history and a simultaneous desire to rewrite it with more magic.

    When not identifying as an author, she identifies as a woman with bangs, finger tattoos, and a nose ring, who can tell you what planets are making you sad.

the review process

1) In the first round of review, your story will go to our reading team that is full of teachers, editors, and writing professionals. They score the story based on a common rubric. This rubric judges the story based on the following categories: character development, pacing, world-building, readability, imagery, and how creatively the prompts & theme were used. Each story is read and reviewed in a set of 20 stories.

2) The top stories from each set are sent to the 2nd round of review, where the stories will go through a similar review process with different members of our reading team. Each story is read and reviewed in a set of 20 stories.

3) The top stories from round 2 will move to the final round that is read and reviewed by the final judge review panel. The review panel then meets to discuss the final stories and decide on the final ranking for prizes!

What our past participants are saying:

reasons not to join:

  • Well, hello there, Imposter Syndrome. Have you written a letter to a lover or a friend? Have you written in your journal in the past year? Past 5 years? Well, then, I hate to break it to you but you ARE a writer. A writer is not the same as a published author. So if you enjoying the act of writing, even if it is totally just for fun, then YOU ARE A WRITER.

  • We hear you on this one. it’s intimadating. But think about it this way, Sarah J Mass had never written fantasy until she started writing fantasy. J.R.R. Tolkein had never written fantasy until he started writing fantasy either.

    Everyone has a BEFORE, but only people who choose to take the leap have an AFTER. Do you want to be 80 years old one day still saying “I’ve never written fantasy” or do you want to say “I’m so glad I started writing fantasy” !

  • We know how hard it is to put down your novel/series to work on a completely different project. And there are times when you just don’t want to break that flow.

    Just remember that this is all part of the creative process. You might write a short story in this challenge that transforms the way you think about one of your characters or the magic system that you built. You never know what’s waiting on the other side of it.

  • Stop it right there. Yes, you could make the argument that everyone is at different skill levels and maybe you’re just starting out writing fantasy. That’s when we’ll remind you that this is a CHALLENGE. A challenge to write something new, to test the bounds of your imagination, and a challenge to believe in yourself.

    There are times when we all think “I’m not good enough.” That’s just a little hurdle to jump over so that you can go create some magic on the other side.

  • We’re willing to bet the winners of our first two challenges thought the same thing. Yes, there are many entries that you are going up against, but the realist is that someone has to win!

    And even if you don’t win, there are so many other benefits to the challenge such as challenging yourself, pulling yourself out of a creative rut, joining other writers in an online forum, attending a creative writing workshop, and creative inspiration!

Romantasy short story writing challenge entry

Includes:

  • Entry to short story challenge and chance to win a cash prize

  • Creative writing workshop — live virtual call with recording

  • Access to the Forest & Fawn free writer’s community forum

  • Feedback on your story

Entry Fee: $38

want discounted entry?

Join our membership specifically crafted for women and femmes who write fantasy!

  • Monthly Workshops

    Get on a call with us to stretch your creativity muscle, practice writing with prompts, and hear from other writers

  • Exclusive Guest Workshops

    Hear from industry professionals and have all of your questions answered

  • Critique Partner Matchup

    We will pair you with another writer who you can connect with to receive feedback, support, and accountability

  • Exclusive Events

    Join us for write-ins, open mics, revision sessions, and more

  • Accountability Check-Ins

    We will post check-ins to help you stay on track with your goals and prioritize your creativity

  • Weekly Prompts

    Enjoy writing prompts to help you stay creative and challenge yourself

  • Writing Challenge Discounts

    Join the Forest & Fawn writing challenges at a reduced registration fee

  • Library of Recordings

    Get access to the replays of the virtual events so that you never miss out

  • Online Forums

    Make new friends in the chat, connect with other writers, and participate in polls, questions, and more

  • First Access to Discounted Retreat Tickets

    Be the first to get an opportunity to snag a spot at any of our retreats. Plus, enjoy early bird pricing!

Want to learn more about what this community has to offer?

not quite ready?

Take it from past Writers

REgistration FAQs

  • If you have questions regarding prompts, formatting, guidelines, and how to submit, please wait until you receive a more detailed email at the challenge start time. All questions will be answered at that time.

    For all other questions, please email us at hello@forestandfawnretreats.com

    If you have already registered, please include your “submission number” in the subject line.

    Please do not message us through the Submittable platform or Instagram with your questions.

  • Online! You can write from the comfort of your own home or your favorite coffee shop. As long as you turn in your submission on time, it doesn’t matter where you do the rest! 

  • Heck no! This challenge is exactly that: a challenge. That means that no matter what level of writing you at currently at, participating in this challenge will only help you get better! This challenge is for seasoned writers and newcomers alike!

  • You must be over 18 to participate.

  • YES! Forest & Fawn reserves the right to publish the story on the website, but the rights to the story remain yours. 

  • Yes!

  • Yes!

  • Yes! Forest & Fawn is not responsible for translating your story into English. You may, however, use phrases or quotes in other languages throughout the story.

  • We will refund the cost of your ticket minus the cost of processing fees up to 72 hours before the challenge start time. After 9:00pm EDT on March 4th, 2025 time, tickets will be non-refundable, no exceptions.

  • The stories will go through 2 rounds of preliminary judging based on a standardized rubric with various criteria. The top stories from the preliminary rounds of judging will go on to be read by our review panel, which you find listed above.

    Throughout each round of review, each story is reviewed in sets of 20 stories.

  • Yes, international participants are welcome! Just make sure to adjust the time zone so you get your assignment in on time.

  • We have a rich grading system that calculates based on the following elements:

    How well a story read as a comprehensive, standalone short story

    How strong was the theme is in the story

    How creatively the story utilized the theme and prompts

    Overall use of imagery

    Overall character development

    How cohesive the story felt

    How the pacing was

    How the world building was

    Whether there was an appropriate amount of worldbuilding

    Whether or not the story read like an edited piece

    Whether or not the story felt unique

    How enjoyable and easy to following along the writing style was

    The use of prose and whether it enhanced or detracted from the story

    How likely we would be to recommend this story to a friend in the target audience

    Whether or not the story included elements of the fantasy genre

    Whether or not the story followed the formatting guidelines

    Whether or not the story included all of the required prompts

    Whether or not the story sent some kind of message to the readers

writing FAQs

FAQs regarding prompts, formatting, guidelines, and submission process will be sent out at 9:00 pm EST on March 7th.

  • Your story should be a maximum of 2,000 words. There is no minimum. This does not include the title page/synopsis.

  • At the start of the challenge, you’ll receive an email that will include all of the instructions for submission. There will be a link to a form in Submittable where you will be able to submit your story.

  • No, all submissions must be original to this challenge! That is how we keep the challenge fair for everyone participating. 

  • No. At the start of the challenge, you’ll receive an email with specific prompts and elements that you’ll need to include in your story. So, if you start writing before receiving those instructions, you’ll likely need to start all over anyway! 

  • Yes, but it needs to be a story that was written specifically for this challenge, and it needs to read as a stand alone story. An excerpt from a larger work will be disqualified.

  • Yes, you may submit a retelling. Fanfics, however, will not be accepted and will be disqualified.