Fan Fiction Contest

Rules

• Stories must be based on characters and settings from any anime, manga, 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.
• 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.
• Winning entries previously entered in any Kumoricon Fan Fiction Contest are not eligible. However, a previously entered entry that has not won first or second place may be entered again.
• Judging criteria include:
  • Readability. Please have someone else proofread your entry. Judges may disqualify stories with extensive grammar and spelling errors.
  • Plot.
  • Engaging characters.

Categories

These are suggestions; actual categories depend on the number of entries received. The judges reserve the right to combine or create other categories as they see fit. (Just because you are the only one submitting in a category does not mean you win by default.)

• Drama
• Action
• Humor
• Romance
• Slice of Life
• Space Opera
• Western
• 18+/Mature

Format type examples

• Poetry or haiku
• Drabbles
• One-shot
• Script
• Multi-chapter
• Novel (100,000 words or more)

Winners will be announced during Closing Ceremonies, and notified shortly before during the Fan Fiction Contest Feedback Panel.

Submission

• Entries should be single-spaced, with a line break between each paragraph.
• 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.
• You do not need to be present to win this year! If you would like feedback or to find out if you won prior to Closing Ceremonies, please attend the Fan Fiction Contest Feedback Panel.

Use the form below to submit digital files. Please make a separate submission for each entry.

Deadline

Novel entries (100,000 words or more) must be received online by 11:59pm on Friday, October 23, 2020.

All other entries must be received by 11:59pm on Friday, October 30, 2020.

Only online submissions are being accepted this year.

Please email fanfiction@kumoricon.org for any questions.