WRITER'S GAMES 2025

Not your ordinary writing competition.

The Writer's Games is a free competition designed to help you improve your craft fast. Every accepted entry receives honest, unbiased feedback from several judges.

Use the dropdown menu above to access the Games Info (how it works), Games Rules, Games FAQ, and Archive pages.

Writer's Games 2025

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Mock Events: April 18/19 and 25/26

Public Registration: May 1

(Priority by email OPEN NOW)

Practice Event: June 13/14

Check this year's changes

Join us on Discord

Read the Rules

Countdown to Registration 2025

Help us train judges:

We need a few intentionally disqualified pieces (go against the challenge or send AI-generated garbage) for the Mock Events. If you're sending DQ content, please let me know in your Title Info for fair distribution and discussion.

Mock Event GIVEAWAY:

We are giving away one Extended Critique package this year to the single writer whose combined Mock Event score is the highest (they win overall).

72 Hours, vol 12, is available NOW!

Contact Theresa with questions.

Registration is required for participation.

Find submissions and formatting information below.

Read the Writer's Games Origin Story on the blog

Pick up past anthologies here

April 25/26

RECALCULATING...

Core Concepts:

dialogue, pacing

It’s easy to get lost if you’re not paying attention. For this Event, your character must follow important directions.

Anyone may submit a single entry up to 5,000 words through our Dropbox or by email to submissions@writersworkout.net before 12 am on the cusp of Tuesday, UTC.

Required Title Information inside your file: Name, Entry Title, Event Name, Word Count.

If you want feedback for your Mock Event entry, please include your email address in your Title Information.

Dropbox

We reject religious, political, and erotic themes. Fanfiction and AI-copied content are not accepted.

All participants must be registered.

Click here for how it works.

Please thank and follow our sponsors on X!

Premier Literary Services: @kuzitiz

Reedsy: @ReedsyHQ

2025 Events & Winners

The top five places in each Event will be featured in

72 Hours of Insanity, vol. 13

Honorable mention entries will not be published

but author names will be included in the anthology.

Practice Event: TBA

June 13

Practice Event entries will NOT be published but are eligible for Judges' Choice.

First Place:

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Honorable mentions:

Check out what we offer.

We appreciate your support!

Opt IN for emailed Event announcements.

Opting in adds you to the Writer's Games updates mailing list only;

it does not secure registration.

Event 1: TBA

June 20

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Event 2: TBA

June 27

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Event 3: TBA

July 4

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Event 4: TBA

July 11

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Event 5: TBA

July 18

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What people say about Writer's Games:

"The Writer’s Games is by far the best thing I’ve ever done to get back into writing. I was looking for an opportunity to write more often, and The Writer’s Games offered that and so much more."

Submissions & Formatting

All entries must follow these submissions guidelines. During Games, we deduct points for incorrect formatting because many publications reject incorrectly formatted submissions without informing you.

All Practice Event entries receive formatting notes to help you keep your points during scored Events.

Arial or Times New Roman, size 10 or 12pt, black
Single spaced
1" empty margins on all four sides
0.5" (12.7mm) or Tab indentations for all paragraphs

Please do not use the spacebar to indent

Empty line for scene breaks

Entries must include the proper Title Information at the start of the document, aligned left. Please do not add your Title Info to the header margin.

Name or Pseudonym (add email for Mock Events)

Title of Entry

Event Name

Word Count

Entries without these four lines in this order in your document will be disqualified from the Event but the writer is still eligible to compete and win. Learn more about what this means on the Games FAQ. Please note the email address is not required for Writer's Games entries but IS required for Mock Events.

Accepted file types: .doc, .docx, .odt

Live, unlocked Google Docs or Microsoft Word links are accepted via email (submissions [at] writersworkout.net). Set your document permissions to "anyone with the link can [comment or edit]" so we can collect it. We will not request access and we are not responsible for locked docs.

Email entries to submissions [at] writersworkout.net

OR use our Dropbox.

The Writer's Workout is a global charity working to improve literacy through creative writing. We hold competitions, workshops, open calls, and discussions; provide motivation, tips, prompts, and giveaways; and offer a community rich in culture and skill. Check our donations page to learn more about how The Writer's Workout strengthens the writing community.

Donate

Learn what it takes to produce one portion of The Writer's Games.

The Writer's Workout is a registered

501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

run by volunteers.

The idea for The Writer's Games (originally dubbed the NaNoGames) came from Heather Glomb. The first Games took place in May, 2014, with a goal to "just write". When the contest finished, writers wanted a stronger challenge and this organization was born.

Read about the first Games here.