Indies United: Small Bites Short Story Contest
Deadline: January 31, 2027
One secret. One held breath. One moment that changes everything.
This year's Small Bites theme—Things Unsaid—invites authors to explore the power of silence, omission, and the moments where words fail us. Whether it's a truth withheld, a confession swallowed, or a revelation avoided for just a little too long, this prompt challenges writers to capture the tension and transformation that live in the quiet space between omission and confession.
Whether you're a debut storyteller or a seasoned scribe, this is your chance to craft a tale that lingers long after the final line. Open to writers worldwide. We are accepting unpublished, original short stories of up to 5,000 words, written in English.
Please submit in the following genres: Narrative Fiction, Historical Fiction, Suspense/Thrillers, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Steampunk, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Mystery, Paranormal, and Narrative Nonfiction.
$25 Entry Fee. Grand Prize Winner receives:
- $250 cash, trophy, metal print award certificate, swag bag
- An invitation to join Indies United Publishing House, with a full publishing package valued at $850, redeemable if they choose to publish a book with Indies United
The Grand Prize Winner, Second Place Winner, Third Place Winner, and Honorable Mentions will all be published in an Indies United anthology.
Visit Indies United to see the complete awards, rules, and submission guidelines.
Indies United is a co-op of like-minded authors working together to showcase our books and celebrate our diversity as writers. With more than 40 subgenres spanning fantasy, fiction, nonfiction, thrillers, mysteries, science fiction, poetry, and youthful readers, we embrace both new and established voices, helping each author find their audience while offering readers books worth reading: stories that surprise, delight, and linger long after the last page.
