Contest Terms

Contest Dates

• Start: March 16, 2026
• End: May 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST

Entry Guidelines

✅ Entry is free!

✅ Publish your story on Inkitt and submit via the contest page or your work settings.

✅ Minimum 20,000 words by the deadline

✅ No maximum word limit

✅ Stories must be original (no plagiarism)

✅ Stories MUST CONTAIN Romance Genre and Second Chance subgenre to be eligible.

• Other genres and subgenres are permitted as long as those two are present.
• For this contest, “Second Chance Romance” means a love story where the main couple has history together and gets another chance at making the relationship work. Stories about a character finding love again with someone new would not fall under the theme for this contest.

✅ Previously completed stories and ongoing stories are allowed

✅ Multiple entries allowed per author (only one story per author can win)

✅Paid-tier subscription stories ARE eligible

• To appear on the contest shelf, your story needs to have AT LEAST 10k words accessible for Free.
• You can learn more about setting up free chapter schedules or setting specific free chapters here.

❌ Fanfiction and poetry are not eligible

❌ Entries already signed/published on Galatea or part of a signed series are ineligible

Age Rating & Title Guidelines

• Titles and covers must be suitable for all audiences.

Winner Announcement / Payment / Selection

• Winners will be announced within 4 weeks of the contest end date on Inkitt’s Instagram and the Inkitt Winners Page.
• Winners will be paid the month following their selection.
• Winner selection is determined by Inkitt’s algorithm, analyzing reader behaviors when interacting with your book.

FAQ

Is this a free writing contest? Yes — Inkitt’s writing contests are always free to enter.

Do I need to finish my story before submitting? No — in-progress and ongoing stories are welcome, as long as you reach 20,000 words by the deadline.

Can I submit multiple entries? Yes! Multiple stories are allowed, though only one can win.

Who can enter this contest? Any author worldwide.

Why enter this contest? Inkitt contests don’t just celebrate winners — they recognize everyone with badges and visibility, helping you grow your readership.