FAQs

May I collaborate with other writers?

Absolutely! We’d definitely encourage collaborative writing with other people such as your writing group, and particularly cross-cultural collaborative writing. Please include the full names of all contributors in your submission, and nominate one person to receive any prize on your group’s behalf, who will be responsible for sharing it among the writers involved as agreed upon between you.

Do I keep rights over my story?

Yes, you will keep all rights as author. The prize we offer is our attempt to support and stimulate Christian writing, particularly among Christians writing from places in the world where there may not be as large a market for their work, or who face challenges in their context that may discourage them from writing. A key part of MAI’s vision is to see local Christian writers flourishing in their ministry.

What are you looking for?

Here are some of the things we’ll be asking ourselves about your story:

• Does the story make us curious, want to know more, hold us in suspense?
• Are its theological underpinnings biblically sound and gospel-centered?
• Is there moral clarity as to what is good and what is evil?
• Are all human characters treated respectfully in the story as image-bearers of God, with depth and complexity as to their history, character and motivation?
• Is the context of war (or threat of war) a key driver of the plot, with the protagonist wrestling with an aspect of it in relation to their Christian faith?
• How immersive is the world building; how apt are the words for the world?
• For stories set in ‘the real world,’ how culturally, geographically and linguistically accurate are world-building details?
• As readers finish the story, what central message are they left with? What ‘lesson’ has been learned?

What happens to my submission if it doesn’t win?

We may write to authors whose submissions are suitable to ask for permission to publish your story in another medium. In the past, we’ve often received such excellent submissions that anthologies have been created—which then go on to help fund future writing contests. As holder of your story’s rights, you are of course also welcome to submit your story for publication elsewhere.

I don’t write fiction, but I like this theme! Can I write something else?

The theme of the first edition of our new magazine is the same as that of the writing contest, “People of Peace in Places of War.” We would welcome submissions of other genres such as poetry, art or devotionals for consideration (please submit these to [email protected]). Please note however that the writing contest prize relates specifically to the selected fictional short story for this edition.