Prepare submissions exactly as described in these instructions. Incomplete or improperly submitted entries will be rejected.
- The Passionate Quill Writing Contest is open to writers worldwide, 18 years or older, whether the author is previously published or unpublished.
- By submitting to the contest, the entrant agrees to abide by and accept all contest rules and guidelines.
- A contest entry fee of $25 is required for each submission, and all fees are non-refundable.
- Multiple submissions by a single author are acceptable, but each entry must be submitted separately, with a separate entry fee.
- All submissions are final once received. No revisions will be accepted.
- The submission deadline is March 1, 2025, 11pm Eastern Time US.
- Contest submission is a two-step process. The first step is the entry fee, the second step is the story submission.
- Submissions and fees will only be accepted via forms on this website. Paper submissions, or other electronic submissions, regardless of the delivery method, will not be accepted.
- Story submissions received without an entry fee registered on the same day will be disqualified and rejected.
- Payments made without an accompanying title will not be refunded.
- This contest is open to Short Story submissions, only. Novella, novelette, poetry, non-fiction, works intended for children, or other forms will be rejected.
- Submissions must include all three elements of the prompt in some way, however, not necessarily in the order presented here.
- Authors may choose the genre, characters, and all other creative elements of the submission.
- Submissions must be between 250 and 15,000 words.
- All submissions must meet Book Cave's MO (Moderate) Rating guidelines:
- May contain up to a total of 40 swear words (no f-bombs)
- May contain moderate crude humor appropriate for teens
- May contain passionate kissing
- May contain non-graphic discussion about intimacy
- May contain implied closed-door or fade-out love scenes (no details/naming of intimate body parts)
- May contain some references to nudity
- May contain significant violence
- May contain moderate drug, alcohol, or tobacco use by adults and some use by minors
- Submissions containing graphic violence toward children or animals will be rejected.
- Authors may submit using a pen name for publication and prize announcements. The author's legal name, mailing address, email address, birth year, and phone number must be included with the submission to award prizes.
- Pages Promotions will not share, sell, or otherwise distribute personal information aside from the author's pen name and winning/publication status.
- Stories must be submitted as an MS Word file or a .pdf file. The title of the story, the name of the author, and the submission date must be included in the file name following the convention shared in the example. [example: A Riveting Short Story.Diana Kathryn Penn.2024.1101].
- Submissions must include the author's name and email address in the header of the document. The header must appear on every page of the document.
- Submissions must be double-spaced unless alternate space formatting is an integral part of the story's aesthetic effect.
- Margins, font style, and font size choices are at the author's discretion, and multiple fonts may be used to enhance story and dialogue elements. However, if a font is too difficult to read, it may negatively impact judges decisions, so choose wisely.
- Submissions must include pages numbers in the footer of the document. The footer must appear on every page of the document.
- All submissions must be original works by the entrant, in English. Plagiarism, which includes the use of third-party poetry, song lyrics, characters, or another person's universe, without written permission , will result in disqualification.
- Submissions generated or enhanced with the use of computer software and/or artificial intelligence will be disqualified.
- Reprints are not permitted. The work submitted must be previously unpublished, and specific to the prompt provided.
- Simultaneous submissions to other publications are permitted, as long as the work meets the rules, and the specifics of the prompt. We may ask for proof of verifiable ownership, if it is a simultaneous submission.
- All submissions, regardless of prize status, will be published in an anthology produced by Pages Promotions, LLC. Purchase of the anthology is not required to submit or win prizes.
- By submitting, authors give Pages Promotions, LLC permission to publish their work on its website and sell it, as a part of the 2025 Passionate Quill anthology edition (in both print and ebook formats as submitted), without compensation, in perpetuity. Submitted stories to the 2025 contest will ONLY be used for the 2025 edition of the contest anthology.
- Writers retain copyright of their work, and all rights to reprint/republish their submissions, in perpetuity.
- 20% of proceeds realized from entry fees and anthology sales will be donated to a charity to be determined by publication date.
- *Judges will determine first place, second place, third place, and honorable mention winning submissions based on the point total earned from the Critique Rubric found on the contest website (below).*
- First Place will win: $500 cash plus one commemorative medal, a digital seal, and one copy of the anthology
- Second Place will win: $250 cash plus one commemorative medal, a digital seal, and one copy of the anthology
- Third Place will win: $50 cash plus one commemorative medal, a digital seal, and one copy of the anthology
- Additional $25 merit-based and/or honorable mention prizes in the form of Amazon Gift Cards and a digital seal may also be awarded at the discretion of Pages Promotions, LLC, but are not guaranteed.
- Contest winners will be individually notified, announced on this website, and announced via various social media channels by Pages Promotions on April 30, 2025.
- All decisions regarding winners and prize awards made by Pages Promotions, LLC are final, binding, and non-transferable.
- Prizes will be delivered/postmarked to winners no later than May 30, 2025.
- Prizes undeliverable due to insufficient or out of date address information at the time of prize announcements will not be forwarded, and in such case, authors will forfeit prizes. Their prize will be awarded to the next author in the point ranking.
- The expected publish date of the anthology created from this contest is June 30, 2024 or before.
- This contest is void where prohibited by law.
- Contest winners are responsible for reporting all contest award winnings to their country's appropriate tax authorities, as well as paying any contest or income taxes incurred due to entry fees and/or as a result of winning a prize. Pages Promotions, LCC is not responsible, and will not be held liable for any tax issues incurred by winners.
Critique Rubric
How will Pages Promotions determine prize-winning submissions?
Below is the Rubric we will use to judge story submissions.
Authors will receive a total point score report for their submission in a private email after the contest prizes have been announced. All prize decisions are final, binding, and non-transferable. Be sure to read all the detailed contest rules before submitting your work!
Below is the Rubric we will use to judge story submissions.
Authors will receive a total point score report for their submission in a private email after the contest prizes have been announced. All prize decisions are final, binding, and non-transferable. Be sure to read all the detailed contest rules before submitting your work!
Performance Standards |
Excellent: 4 Points |
Good: 3 Points |
Fair: 2 Points |
Poor: 1 Point |
Characterization |
The characters are clearly portrayed in some way. The characters are realistic and developed. |
The characters are basically developed in some way. The characters are somewhat realistic, but inconsistent. Traits are somewhat developed. |
The characters are barely developed. |
There is no character development. |
Plot |
The story is extremely well-developed and thorough without being verbose. Plot structure is well used. |
The story is very developed and thorough without being verbose. |
The story is somewhat developed, although often rambling and verbose. |
The story is undeveloped and extremely verbose. |
Setting, Description, Imagery, Theme |
Use of setting is clear. Specific sensory details are used. Themes are easily identified and complex. |
Use of setting is somewhat clear. Some sensory details used. Themes are easily identified and simple. |
Use of setting is unclear, it is difficult for the reader to identify setting in the story. Not many sensory details are used. Themes are difficult to identify and/or too layered to be distinctive. |
No use of setting is present in the story. It is undetermined. No sensory details are used. Themes are so haphazard as to become derivative to the story. |
Mechanics/Length |
Word count meets higher-end threshold. Unique title. Only a few errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. |
Word count meets mid-range threshold. Title is interesting. Some errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. |
Lower end of word count threshold. Title is very basic . Many errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. |
Minimum threshold of word count met. No title. Vast amounts of errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. |
Point of View (POV): 1st Person, 2nd Person, 3rd Person Limited, 3rd Person Omniscient, Unreliable Narrator, 4th Person. |
POV is clear, use of 1st, 3rd, limited and 3rd omniscient easily detected by the reader. 2nd POV attempted and/or achieved. Interesting POV changes to hold reader attention No "Head-Hopping." |
POV somewhat clear. Shift between 1st and 3rd not always easy to identify for reader. Little use of change, but most is identifiable. 2nd POV not attempted. Very little "Head-Hopping." |
POV is unclear at times. Shifts in dialogue (1st or 3rd) hard for reader to detect. Occasional "Head-Hopping." Reader struggles to identify POV often. |
POV is not clear. Reader is unable to identify POV in most situations. "Head-Hopping" is prevelant. |
Rhetorical Devices & Creative Writing Techniques... Imaginative comparisons, diction, poetic meter & rhythm, allusion, and figurative language, tension |
Frequent creative writing techniques are present and are executed in a high-level, sophisticated manner. Excellent transitions. Dialogue is well connected to character and extends characterization. Clear distinction between internal and external dialogue. Action scenes are impressive, and consistently move the story forward. |
Occasional use of creative writing techniques executed with strong familiarity. Consistent transitions. Dialogue connects to characterization well, Good use of slang and other shifts in dialogue styles, both internal and external. Action scenes are interesting, although sometimes timid. Transitions are gentle, but appropriate to the story. |
Little use of creative writing techniques, and the writing style is immature. Dialogue is flat. Action is either dull or non-existent. Transitions are very thin. |
No evidence of creative writing techniques, with "if/then" and/or "listed action sequences." Dialogue is flat. Difficult for reader to distinguish between internal and external dialogue. Transitions are too abrupt or non-existent. |
Pages Promotions, LLC
Indie Author & Book Publicists
Email: [email protected]
Post: 1221 Bowers Street Unit 31
Birmingham, MI 48009
Phone: 248-914-4027
(voicemails & emails are usually returned within three business days)
Indie Author & Book Publicists
Email: [email protected]
Post: 1221 Bowers Street Unit 31
Birmingham, MI 48009
Phone: 248-914-4027
(voicemails & emails are usually returned within three business days)