Fabuly is an app that offers a vast library of high-quality free audiobooks and ebooks, focusing on classic literature. It allows users to read and listen to their favorite classic novels and short stories. To know more, read Fabuly: Who we are?
Is there a theme for the Fabuly Writer’s Challenge?
Yes, all short stories submitted for this competition must follow the theme of "An Unexpected Encounter" under 2,000 words written in the English language. For inspirations, you can go through the introduction here.
You must be 18 years of age by December 15, 2024, to enter the Fabuly Writer’s Challenge. Parents and guardians may not enter a story on behalf of a child under 18.
All entries must be submitted no later than December 15, 2024, at 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time (PST). Additionally, we will only accept the first 200 entries so we advise you to submit your short story as soon as it's ready.
No. The competition is open to all writers, both published and unpublished, aged 18 and over. However, entries that have been previously submitted, published, or awarded in any other competition are not eligible. This has to be a fresh and original work of the author.
Writers can submit an entry with a pseudonym, but they must also provide their legal names as a requirement for identification purposes to enter the competition.
Are there any formatting restrictions or guidelines?
All submissions must be in English. Your submission should only contain raw text without any formatting such as bold or italicized text. Please also avoid using images, comic strips, GIFs, etc. Moreover, it is advisable to reduce or altogether avoid the use of dialogue in your short story to ensure its successful adaptation into a generated audiobook (refer to the Evaluation Process section for details).
Can I submit the work I entered in the Fabuly Writer’s Challenge elsewhere while I await the results?
No. Entries must remain unpublished and not be entered for other prizes for the duration of the Fabuly Writer’s Challenge. The winner is expected to be announced on March 2nd, 2025.
Who owns the copyright if I don’t win the Fabuly Writers Challenge?
If you don’t win the Fabuly Writers Challenge, you retain full copyright to your story. You can freely publish or submit it elsewhere after the contest. Fabuly only has limited rights to use your story during the public voting period if you're a semi-finalist, but those rights expire once the voting ends, unless you proceed to the grand prize stage.
Yes, if you are a semi-finalist, Fabuly may publish your story on the app during the public voting period, which lasts one month. We will also create an audio and cover for your story, but you still own the full rights and can publish it elsewhere after the voting ends unless you move to the grand prize stage. If you win the grand prize, your story may be published and used in text and audio format within Fabuly's app, and we can keep using it. However, you still keep the rights to your story and can publish it elsewhere.
Yes, if you reach the semi-finals, your story will be adapted into an audiobook for the public voting period, which lasts one month. If you win the Grand Prize, your story will be adapted into a professionally narrated audiobook.
If you win, the cash prize will be paid via Bank Transfer, PayPal, or another mutually agreed-upon method, as long as you're a resident of a country in the SWIFT network. You'll need to provide valid identification and payment details within 14 days of being notified. If you don't provide the information in time, you may lose the prize. You are also responsible for reporting and paying any taxes related to the prize in your country, as the organizer is not responsible for any tax obligations.
Can I submit a co-written story for the challenge?
No, you cannot submit a co-written entry for the challenge. Participants must be the sole writer of the story, as each individual is only allowed to submit one entry, and it must be entirely their own work.
Can I use ChatGPT or any other generative AI to write my story?
AI generated text is not authorized for writing the story. "AI" may be used to correct grammar and orthographic mistakes, or to perform research before writing the story.
The jury reserves the right to reject any submission that fails to adhere to these guidelines, strays off-topic, contains errors, appears hastily prepared, includes inappropriate or hateful content, or is of questionable quality.
Are there previous winners or testimonials I can review?
As this is the inaugural edition of the Fabuly Writers Challenge, we don’t have previous winners or testimonials to share just yet. However, we're excited to see the creativity and talent this first round will bring!