Born Digital: Microfiction Contest

• Word limit: maximum 300 words
• Genre: fiction
• Eligibility: This contest is open to students of the University of Bergen and the University of Stuttgart

• Deadline: 01 March 2026
• Submit: Online via digital mailbox as a PDF file
• Judging criteria: Entries will be evaluated on the originality of ideas, creativity, clarity of expression, adherence to the word limit, and effective use of language. Terms and Conditions apply.

* Please note that only original, self-authored work will be accepted. Any form of plagiarism and use of AI-tools will lead to immediate disqualification from the competition.

First Prize: 300,- Euro

Second Prize: 200,- Euro

Third Prize: 100,- Euro

Prof. Dr. Joseph Tabbi, Professor Emeritus University of Bergen

Prof. Dr. David Thomas Henry Wright, University of Bergen

Dr. Christine Lehnen, University of Hamburg

Dr. Curtis Rundstedler, University of Stuttgart

1. The Born Digital Writing Competition is organised by the Department of English Literatures and Cultures at the University of Stuttgart (“ELC”).
   
   
2. Entry to this Competition is open to persons studying (“students”) at the University of Stuttgart (Germany) and/or at the University of Bergen (Norway) on March 1^st 2026 when the competition closes.
   
   
3. You must be at least eighteen (18) years old to enter this competition.
   
   
4. The deadline for submission of writing (“entries”) is (23:59 PM) (German time) on (March 1^st 2026). Entries received after this deadline will not be considered.
   
   
5. Entrants must submit:
   A short story of up to 300 words in length. There is no minimum word count. Titles, subtitles (including section numbers), and page numbers are not included in the word count. Quotations, dedications and epigraphs should be included in the word or line count.
   
   
6. Each entrant may only submit one entry to the writing competition.
   
   
7. Submitting an entry to the Competition is FREE. No payment of any sort of entry fee is required to participate in the Born Digital Writing Competition.
   
   
8. All work submitted for consideration can be on any subject, and written in any style or form, but must be the entrant’s original writing, and should not have been published in print or have been broadcast on or before April 1^st.
   
   
9. Work which has been published on websites, blogs or social media sites can be submitted, but must be taken down before the date of entry and must not be uploaded again on or before April 1^st. Work that has been circulated via, or uploaded to, closed forums (e.g. for the purposes of workshopping on writing courses) can be submitted provided it is not publicly accessible.
   
   
10. Simultaneous submissions to other competitions or for publication are permitted, provided the work is not published elsewhere on or before April 1^st and the terms and conditions or licences of those submissions do not prohibit entry to our competition. Work found to be published in print or to have been broadcast or to have appeared on a website outside of these terms will be disqualified.
    
    
11. All work must be typed, clearly legible and written in English. Entrants should not include illustrations or artwork. Beyond these stipulations, presentation (e.g. font and spacing) is at the entrant’s discretion.
    
    
12. Translations into English of work written in other languages can be accepted, provided that the source text is the entrant’s original work and has not been published; translations into English of work published elsewhere in other languages, or where the source text is not the entrant’s own original work, will not be accepted.
    
    
13. The use of artificial intelligence or other similar technology to assist in the process of creating the submission is not allowed. By entering this competition, you are agreeing that we may check your work for copying and/or the use of artificial intelligence in its creation.
    
    
14. Entries will be accepted only online via the competition website. Submission via other means (e.g. by email or in printed format by post) will not be accepted or considered and cannot be returned.
    
    
15. Entries submitted for consideration may be withdrawn from the Competition by notification in writing (email) to be received by the department of English Literatures and Cultures at University of Stuttgart to the following email address: nadja.hieber@ilw.uni-stuttgart.de.
    
    
16. Amendments cannot be made to entries after they have been submitted. If entrants wish to correct errors in writing, or make any substitutions, they must withdraw their entry from the Competition as above and enter again. This includes instances where entrants wish to remove or replace entire submissions or part(s) of a submission. No correspondence or discussion about amendments or substitutions will be entered into.
    
    
17. Entries will not be returned under any circumstances. Correspondence requesting returns will not receive a response.
    
    
18. ELC reserves the right to disqualify any entry if it has reasonable grounds to believe that the entrant has breached any of these Rules.
    
    
19. ELC cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss, injury or disappointment suffered by any entrant entering the Competition.
    
    
20. ELC will act in accordance with current German data protection legislation in relation to your personal data.
    
    
21. The Competition and Rules will be governed by German Law and any dispute will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Germany.
    
    
22. ELC reserves the right to amend these Rules where it is deemed necessary to do so or where circumstances are beyond ELC’s control. Any changes to the Rules will be posted on the Born Digital Writing Competition website.
    
    
23. Submission of an entry will be deemed to imply unqualified acceptance of the Competition’s Rules. In the event of any dispute regarding these Rules or any other matter relating to the Competition, the decision of ELC shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.
    
    
24. You will retain ownership of copyright in your submission, however ELC will not be able to return copies of any submission, and it is your responsibility to keep a copy. ELC will not be able to provide feedback on any entry other than the shortlisted entries.
    
    
25. If you win, no purchase is required to redeem the Prize.
    
    
26. The Prize is non-refundable, non-transferable and subject to availability.
    
    
27. No other alternative to the Prizes are available, and the Organisers reserve the right in their reasonable discretion to substitute any Prize with a Prize of equal or greater value.
    
    
28. The Organiser is not responsible for contacting or forwarding the Prize to entrants who provide unclear or incomplete information or for entries lost, misdirected, delayed, or destroyed. If the winner cannot be contacted within a reasonable timeframe, the Organiser reserves the right to select another winner.
    
    
29. The Organiser will use reasonable endeavours to deliver the Prize within one (1) month of the winner being notified that they have won the competition. However, the Organiser is not liable for any delay in the delivery of the Prize.
    
    
30. The Organiser will aim to adhere to the deadline for delivery stipulated above, however if the Organiser is unable to meet that deadline due to any circumstances arising as a direct or indirect result of a pandemic, epidemic or any other potential unforeseen factors outside of their control, the Organiser will ensure relevant timely communication with the winner and, in the unlikely event that delivery becomes impossible, the Organiser will offer a reasonable substitute of the Prize which is of equal or greater value.
    
    
31. The Organiser’s decision as to who has won the Competition shall be final.
    
    
32. By entering the Competition, you are agreeing that, if you win, your name and image may be used for the purpose of announcing the winner and in any related publicity with the Organiser without any additional payment or permission. 
    
    
33. By entering the Competition, you agree that your submitted entry, together with your name, may be published on the Competition website after the submission deadline of March 1^st, 2026. You acknowledge that no compensation will be provided for such publication.
    
    
34. The entry instructions are part of the Terms and Conditions for this competition. By entering this competition, you are agreeing to accept these Terms. Any breach of these Terms and Conditions by you will mean that your entry will not be valid, and you will not be allowed to enter this competition.