Fan Fiction Contest

Rules listed below were for the Kumoricon 2024 Fan Fiction Contest. Rules may be changed before applications for the 2025 Fan Fiction Contest open. Please review the final rules before applying.

Rules

  • Stories must be based on characters and settings from any anime, manga, Japanese drama, Japanese video game, or Japanese musical group.
    • Stories based on cartoons, books, movies, or video games from other areas of the world may also be allowed as long as elements from Japanese culture are included. Two examples of this would be Avatar: The Last Airbender or Teen Titans, both of which have very heavy Japanese influences but were created in the United States. It will be at the discretion of the judges to decide whether an entry is eligible under these guidelines.
    • Stories based on cartoons, books, or movies from other parts of East Asia may also be allowed. Email fan.fiction@kumoricon.org with inquiries.
  • Crossovers are allowed.
  • No completely original fiction will be accepted. Entries must be fan fiction.
  • Original characters are allowed, but must be within the setting of the chosen series/game/band and interacting with other fandom characters.
  • Only completed works are allowed to be entered.
  • Entries must be written by the person submitting them. No submissions will be accepted by proxy. All instances of plagiarism will result in disqualification from the contest and any future Fan Fiction Contests by Kumoricon.
  • You must give a rating to your entry based on the fiction ratings system. Materials that are clearly incorrectly rated will be disqualified (such as labeling an M as a K+ for example).
  • Winning entries from any previous Kumoricon Fan Fiction Contest are not eligible.

Judging criteria include:

  • Readability. (Please have someone else beta* your entry—do not trust your autocorrect.) Judges may disqualify stories with extensive grammar and spelling errors.
  • Plot.
  • Engaging characters.
  • Dialogue that enhances and supports the story.
  • Emotional response.

*Beta reader—someone who reads your story before submission or publication who can advise on things such as: spelling errors, grammatical errors, continuity errors, plot holes, out of character behavior, etc.

Categories

Categories primarily exist to let the judges know what to expect. These are suggestions; actual categories depend on the number of entries received. Winners are chosen by their quality, not their category. The judges reserve the right to combine or create other categories as they see fit. (Just because you are the only one entering in a category does not mean you win by default, nor does it mean that if you win, it will be in your listed category.)

  • Drama
  • Action
  • Humor
  • Romance
  • Slice of Life
  • Space Opera
  • Western
  • Discord Prompts

Format type examples

  • Poetry or haiku
  • Drabbles
  • One-shot
  • Script
  • Multi-chapter
  • Novella (17,500–50,000 words)
  • Novel (more than 50,000 words)

How to enter

  • Use the form below to submit digital files. Please make a separate submission for each entry.
  • Entries should be single-spaced, with a line break between each paragraph.
  • Please put the title of your work on the first page, but do not include your name if you want to be judged blind.
  • A summary of, or a link to a wiki about, the original source material would be much appreciated. This is especially important if there is a backstory that the reader must know to truly understand the story. Not all judges follow the same things. See the entry form.
  • Winners will be announced during Closing Ceremonies, and notified shortly before during the Fan Fiction Contest Feedback Panel.
  • You must be present on Sunday of the convention at the Fan Fiction Contest Feedback panel in order to pick up a prize for winning, but you don't need to be present in order for your entry to win an award.
  • If you would like feedback or to find out if you won (and to pick up your prize) prior to Closing Ceremonies, please attend the Fan Fiction Contest Feedback panel. (See the official Kumoricon schedule once released for the time and location of the panel.) Feedback will be given out individually at the front of the room, after announcing the winners, to those who would like it.

Deadline

Novel entries (more than 50,000 words) must be received online by 11:59pm on Friday, October 11, 2024.

Novella entries (17,500–50,000) must be received online by 11:59pm on Friday, October 18, 2024.

All other entries must be received online by 11:59pm on Friday, November 1, 2024.

Contact

Please email fan.fiction@kumoricon.org for any questions.

Check out our #fan-fiction channel on the Kumoricon Discord server.

Entry form

Applications for the Kumoricon 2025 Fan Fiction Contest will open closer to the convention.