Forums » Art & Creativity » Official Contest: Short Stories 2026

And by short story, we mean really short stories. The shorter the better. I loved what you all did with this one the last two years so much I decided to bring it back, but with a new set of theme words.

• One entry per user.
• Only users, no posts from characters will count.
• Roll a 1d10 in this topic. Whatever number it comes up on, that’s the theme or inspiration you need to write your story on. You do not need to include the actual word that prompted you in your story.
• Entries should not an exceed a PG-13 rating.
• Edit the post where you made your dice roll to insert your story into it when it’s done.
• Maximum 100 words! Here's a site that might help you: https://easywordcount.com/
• Your story must have a beginning, middle and end.

Themes:

1. Diversity
2. Poetry
3. Praise
4. Neglect
5. Language
6. Tone
7. Mercy
8. Evidence
9. Backstage
10. Sparkle

Prizes:

• 2026 RPR tote bag - (Real life prize - we’ll ship one to you) Totebags won in contests have some surprises inside them! Please note that I won’t be able to ship this until after the genre mascot art contest completes and we know what this design will be.
• Greater Wand of Epicness - Grants 6 months of Epic Membership
• Wand of Epicness - Grants 3 months of Epic Membership
• Oil of Epicness - Grants 1 month of Epic Membership
• Dragon's tooth - 5 extra permanent character slots
• Box of Rocks - Contains 5 random pet rocks, including a chance for special color variants only available via a box.
• Throwables collection composed of Glitterbombs, snowballs, fireworks, blossom bombs and water balloons

The first place winner will get to pick any one of these prizes. Then second place picks from the remaining prizes, then third, etc. There will be FIVE winners. However, there are more than five prizes so the fifth place winner still gets a choice!

This is nice, I loved the first time I participated.
But before I roll the dice, one question:
It is a story, as said with intro, plot and end. Has it to be strict text, or are we free to chose a style, like a ballad or a poem, or word art, not a picture of course?

Thanks

Question for me - can it involve my characters or does it need to me something unique only to the story?

Evidence

-

Music.
Forbidden, life ruining, that which would bring The Yaya.
Yet here she was, hearing what she ought not.
Within their temple, The Kaya sang.
And The Yaya listened.
She'd heard Music before - she knew the falsehoods, the lies.
But might this be different?
Was this the true danger?
She tried a song upon her tongue - too loud.
Eyes upon her, voices raised - not in song nor praise.
The Kaya pleaded, The Yaya answered.
She must not escape!
She must not tell!
Vines whipping, petals like blades, aiming for legs.
Yet she escaped - the songs were hers.
All for herself.

If you're able to tell a story that meets the criteria that is also a poem, go for it!

You are free to use your own characters, so long as a person who doesn't know those characters can still get what you're going for.

Go for it then

Edit 1 : Backstage ! The secret behind the scenes, oooooh I got inspired

Edit 2 : Told you got inspired, her's the ballad of a bot, 99 words

Edit 3 : I had found a wrong word and had to change it, sorry for that. Wordcount doesn’t change!!

Unsympathetic as a prison door
Came this bot showing on forum’s floor
Buy this or that
And you won’t get fat
The unwanted link just didn’t say more

Spread the news cherished bot
AI might help a lot

The ad appeared to the eyes of a doe
Signaled this backstage illico
Behind the scene
Moderator is been
Working as those bots hardest foe

Defeated it is unwanted bot
AI won’t help a lot

Backstage on RPR is not secret
Moderation you might believe it
Does the best
And all the rest
To chase those bots and make them quit

To be chanted in a four four time, straight note ballad, emphasizing the bolded words

Backstage

With quick, flicking motions of their fingertips, they combed their hair into just the right amount of wave and curl to emphasise the androgyny of their features. Peering into the mirror, they made a soft 'hmm' sound under their breath, straightening up.

"No, no that's not quite right..."

With a subtle shimmer to the eyes, a puckering inwards here and a sharpness there, the features peering back had become a touch harsher, and their eyes were lilac rather than blue. Much more striking.

They would capture all willing eyes facing them, watching them, witnessing them. Capture, and engage, and ensnare.

Backstage

let's see...