About
Submit your best story based on the theme of Indulgence!
Why indulgence? Because it's an umbrella for so many fun Romance tropes!
Grumpy/Sunshine?
Win over that grumpy Gus!
Enemies to Lovers?
Stop swinging swords and start swinging... wands!
Only One Bed?
Put a quilt of roses on that twin-sized mattress!
Taking the Big Leap?
Say yes! Enthusiastically!
Forced Proximity?
Shove your characters into that elevator and then break it!
Forbidden Love?
Re-tell Romeo and Juliet to your heart's content! Make it a romance! Give those crazy kids a happy ending!
Indulge! Treat Yourself! Savor the plethora of trope opportunities! And then send me your writing because I want to read it all!
Okay, that was a lot of exclamation points. Let's reign it in.
Oh yeah, did I mention the top three picks will be read by Micah Brocker—an agent at Corvisiero Literary Agency? Thank you, Micah! (That exclamation point doesn't count. I mean, it's Micah!)
If you win, you'll receive a $200 cash prize! (Okay. That was the last exclamation point. I promise.)
Note: If you register before December 31, 2024 you will be qualified to enter BARN's first ever Annual Collection
Submission Guidelines
- 12 pt font, Times New Roman, double-spaced.
- 5,000-word maximum (flash fiction accepted).
- Entries should be anonymous. Please ensure your name is not on the actual work.
- File formats: .pdf, .doc, and .docx.
- DEADLINE: Jan. 31, 2025, 11:59 p.m. PST
The winner will be emailed no later than Feb. 7. The announcement will be made publicly within that week.
If you paid for the critique option, your critique will be emailed to you by Feb. 28..
Class Policies
Contest Rules
- Because you must be 21 or older to attend the Romance Reading Party, you must be 21 or older to enter.
- Multiple submissions are allowed. However, you must pay the registration fee on the BARN website prior to each submission.
- Submitted stories can be previously published.
- Simultaneous submissions accepted.
We Will Not Accept
- Homophobic/racist/misogynistic/ableist or any kind of prejudiced writing.
- Exploitative sexual content (non-consensual encounters).
- Over-the-top body horror just for the sake of it.
- Graphic violence or abuse.
- We will not knowingly consider AI generated writing.
- Spicy romance is acceptable; but we're not looking for erotica (three or fewer chili peppers, please).
Submitters will retain all rights to their work.
Questions? Email us at writers.contest@bainbridgebarn.org
