People of Peace in Places of War: An MAI Writing Contest for Christian writers
If you’re a Christian writer wondering about your next project, we invite you to consider writing a short fiction story on the theme People of Peace in Places of War by October 30, 2025. The winner will receive $US350 and publication in MAI’s new print magazine.
We’ll contact any runners up with potential prizes and opportunities for publication. Sometimes there’s very little in between the top writing entries!
Writing guidelines
Write a previously unpublished fictional short story on the theme People of Peace in Places of War, in which the protagonist is a Christian living in a physical context of war—or the fear of impending war. The story may be based on real events or experiences, but written following narrative forms and conventions for fiction. All fiction genres including fantasy, historical, romance and science-fiction are also welcome.
- Word limit: 1200-1500 words
- Language: English
How to enter
- Email [email protected] by October 30 to submit your entry, using “MAI Writing Contest” in the subject line.
- Please include a short author bio, inclusive of your faith and writing journey. (This does not form part of the word count limit.)
- If your story was originally written in a language other than English, please include both the original text and English translation in your submission. (The word count pertains to the English translation.)
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.
I’m quite a new writer. How might I get started?
We’re glad to hear you’re thinking about this writing project! Here are some things you can try to get ideas flowing:
Explore resources on Christian writing. As you put what you’ve learned into practice, you might find ideas start to come! Check out:
- What is Christian writing? with Miriam Adeney, a short video on themes that characterize Christian writing
- Creatively co-writing with God with Allen Arnold, a podcast episode of the Christian Publishing Show
- How to write compelling stories for fiction or non-fiction projects with Tessa Afshar, an MAI webinar
Do you have a Christian friend living in a politically difficult context? You might reach out to them to ask how they’re going, be a listening ear and support them in prayer. As you pray for your friend, you might find ideas come to mind. You could even let your friend know about this opportunity to write. They might wish to write too—or they might offer to collaborate with you, and help you with details for your story.
Is there a particular country or issue that you can’t stop thinking about, feel very strongly about, or persistently pray about? Perhaps there is a story you can write that draws on your interest in this. You might start reading more about places or issues that are concerning you, pray about these things, and from this may come the beginnings of a story.
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 a testimony, prayer or devotional 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.
If you write poetry, you might consider contributing to our poetry anthology, Still: Poems of Peace in Times of Turmoil.