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FICTION POTLUCK
April Challenge:
Body Snatchers
up to 5,000 words
OPEN through May 15
Find submission links below the rules
A Tip from Elmira:
This theme could include anything from mind control to clones to supernatural possession. I'm interested in how your characters react to a person who may not be who they think they are. I love strong characters and high stakes, no matter the genre. Your story could be terrifying or thrilling—or maybe even a beautiful new romance.
Submission links are below the submissions guidelines.
One entry per person.
Read past winners here:
April Guest Judge
Elmira Olson
Elmira Olson has lived her whole life on the Canadian prairies;
the first half on a farm in Saskatchewan, and the second half in Edmonton, Alberta. The past several years have been occupied with entering as many writing competitions as she can fit into her schedule. She loves doing anything creative—writing, painting, arts and crafts, with varying degrees of ability.
The Basics
Fiction Potluck is free to enter and open to fiction writers of all ages around the world. One entry per person per challenge.
Submissions are accepted through Duosuma and email (submissions [at] writersworkout.net).
Submissions are accepted six weeks at a time, starting in January, April, July, and October. The challenge and guest judge will change each open period. The guest judge picks the challenge—we never know what we'll get!
The selection team reads all entries that follow the submissions guidelines as explained below. Entries are read blind. The team chooses the finalists and contacts everyone.
Finalist author names and bios are posted on this page and announced in our monthly mailer.
The guest judge reads the finalist pieces and chooses three winners. Each of the three winning pieces is published on our blog and linked through this page. Winning entries will be published as received.
The Writer's Workout is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit run by volunteers.
We provide accessible, free creative writing education through competitions, workshops, and publication opportunities. Check our donations page to learn more about how The Writer's Workout strengthens the global writing community.
General Rules
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All entries must be in English and original works of fiction.
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Include your piece title and "Fiction Potluck" in your file name.
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One entry per person per challenge.
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The competition runs on UTC time, beginning and ending at midnight.
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You must keep your entry private until after we post the top three winning stories.
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The judges' decisions are final.
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The judges cannot provide feedback for every piece submitted.
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Winning entries will be published as received.
The following are not accepted:
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Simultaneous submissions (sorry, it's for anonymity. You'll know within 15 days of closure if you can sub somewhere else!)
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Previously published works (see above)
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AI-generated content
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Fanfiction, erotica, religious, or political content
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Pieces longer than the word count limit
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Pieces submitted outside the competition month
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Pieces submitted in .pdf or pasted into the body of the email
Submissions Guidelines
April: up to 5,000 words
Formatting
No identifying info inside your file.
Include your piece title at top of your doc
TNR or Arial, 10/12, single spaced
Indent paragraphs
Empty margins on all sides
Empty line for scene breaks
How To Submit
File name: Piece Title - Fiction Potluck
Submissions accepted by email or Duosuma
submissions [at] writersworkout.net
Include your piece title and Fiction Potluck in your subject
Include your name/pseudonym and short bio in the body of your email
Attach your file in .doc/x or .odt OR paste the live, unlocked link to your GDoc or Word file
We must be able to download your file. We will not request access and we are not responsible for locked files.
You can find these settings on the Submissions page.
Rights
Your submission grants The Writer's Workout (WW) exclusive electronic rights for up to 90 days, ending with quarterly winner announcement. WW reserves non-exclusive rights to digitally publish winning entries indefinitely. Winning pieces will be published as received.
Carly Colbert
Carly is a writer and editor who loves creating and chocolate in equal measure. She has been published in several literary magazines, runs her own podcast, and is always looking for the next story to dig into. Being a fan of many genres, Carly is most interested in those that are dark, absurd, deeply human, and surprisingly magical. When she’s not doing all that she is most definitely hanging out with dogs.
Seth Cupery
Seth is a freelance writer and editor with a bachelor’s degree in the humanities and a history minor, hoping to help other writers improve and find their audience. Born and raised in rural Wisconsin, Seth still tries to learn as much as he can about the wider world so that he can better understand the people he shares a planet with. He enjoys works of fiction, historical facts, weird information from around the globe, and a well-drawn illustration or map.
Jessie Fisher
Jessie is a writer, reader, and artist with a soft spot for the mystical and magical! When she’s not scribbling down ideas for new stories that never see the light of day or sketching scenes in nature, she's tending to her frogs and hunting for cozy small towns to explore.
Nicole Hurley
As a publishing professional, Nicole brings together editorial expertise and the creative energy behind storytelling. She has shaped manuscripts, led line edits, and refined internal workflows with adaptability and enthusiasm. Currently a Manuscript Evaluator at a literary agency and Managing Editor at an independent publisher, she collaborates closely with authors to connect readers with diverse, empowering stories. She is now at work on her (hopefully) debut novel.
Cassell Presnell
Cassell is an undergraduate studying creative writing, rhetoric, and psychology. In addition to being a full-time student and writing consultant, she’s a fantasy writer and wannabe poet. Every free moment of her day is spent writing, reading, or playing with her little black kitten, Mosi—he rather enjoys watching people type! Cassell also enjoys teaching and helping others, which led her here, and will inevitably lead her to law school in the near future.
Emergency Only:
Theresa Green
Theresa is a co-founder of The Writer's Workout, a crime fiction writer, and the editor at Premier Literary Services.
Will Kelly
Will is a 5th grade English teacher from Las Vegas, Nevada. He needs a deadline and a prompt to write, so he joins just about any creative writing he can find. Most of his stories tend to be set in the real world with adolescent characters at the forefront. Will prefers to read psychological thrillers and mysteries, but is a sucker for meaning of life stories. When not reading or writing, you can find Will at pub trivia, a stand-up comedy show, or rooting on the San Francisco 49ers.
Be our guest!
Do you have a big release coming soon? Spread the word by being a guest judge.