SHWC Entry - Main Category

Welcome to the Speculative Harvest Writing Contest!

This Entry ticket is for consideration in the Main Category - 1st Chapter.

✨What We’re Looking For:

Speculative Harvest celebrates innovative Black storytelling. We want writing that bends genres, fuses traditions, and imagines new futures rooted in the brilliance of the Black perspective.

Your submission should:

• Center Black main characters. Non-Black side or supporting characters are fine. Non-Black love interests are fine. But the main character must be Black (or Black-adjacent in genre-blends or speculative stories that have non-human characters).
• Fall within speculative fiction or genre-blending (sci-fi, fantasy, horror, mythic, futurist, magical realist, etc.).
• Show storytelling innovation: fresh approaches, bold ideas, or boundary-breaking perspectives.
• Carry a strong, authentic Black voice: written our way, unlimited and nonconforming.

🚫 What We’re Not Accepting

To protect the community and vision, entries will NOT be accepted if they:

• Are based in slavery settings (our stories are more than trauma).
• Contain or promote white nationalism or anti-Black ideology.
• Lean on harmful, offensive, or tired tropes:
• romanticizing or justifying the dehumanization of Black people
• pedophilia or child exploitation
• anti-Black self-hatred narratives
• Include plagiarism, AI-generated writing, or previously published work.

Beyond winners and finalists, we’ll highlight standout moments in storytelling with special recognitions for additional categories. 🌟 Most Hooking First Line 🌟 Most Real-to-Life Protagonist 🌟 Most Villainous Villain 🌟 Most Innovative Storytelling Structure 🌟 Most Alluring Cover Design These aren’t boxes to check, but rather opportunities for your work to shine in unexpected ways. You can enter for consideration in as many Spotlight categories as you'd like. Note: Each Spotlight entry is an additional $5. To enter your submission for considering in Spotlight categories, please select the Spotlight Bundle option.

Process for submission

Joining the Harvest is simple:

1. Purchase your Main Entry Ticket.

Decide if you'd like to enter a Spotlight category along with your main entry.

Once you complete checkout, you’ll receive:

• Your unique license key (this is your official entry Submission ID)
• A downloadable Contestant Packet with full details
• A link to the Submission Form where you’ll upload your entry

2. Prepare your submission.

Submit one first chapter (up to 10 double-spaced pages) in PDF, DOCX, or TXT format.

Remove your name and personal details from the document as judging is 100% blind. Failure to remove all author identifiers AND include your Submission ID when submitting your entry will result in automatic disqualification and forfeiture of entry fees if these errors are not corrected before the final deadline.

3. Upload your entry.

Use the link provided in your confirmation email.

You’ll need to include your Submission ID to verify your paid entry.

4. (Optional) Add Spotlight categories

Enter for Spotlight consideration if you want to compete in additional craft challenges for extra prizes and recognition.

Each Spotlight requires a Main Entry purchase to qualify. Please select the number of Spotlight categories you'd like to your entry to be considered for. You can select your Spotlight options on the submissions page when you are ready to enter your story into the contest.

That’s it!

Your story will be reviewed by a panel of readers and editors who value imagination, voice, and authenticity. Winners receive cash prizes ($2,500 total, $1500 top prize), author features in the Prism Perspective publication's first issue, and community access in the Roots and Realms Discord.

📅 Submission Deadline: November 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST

🚫 Contest refunds only apply if fewer than 200 entrants register.