Inspiring
Challenges for
Storytellers
Up Next:
Est. 2002
We create inspiring challenges for storytellers around the world. Here is how a typical challenge works:
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Three prompts.
When a challenge begins, writers are given three prompts. Prompts vary by challenge, but can consist of a genre, action, character, location, object, subject, or word. These prompts need to be integrated into the story or screenplay you will write.
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A time limit.
All the challenges begin and end at 11:59 PM New York time, which is one minute before midnight—hence the name NYC Midnight. The challenges range from as little as 24 hours to 8 days to complete.
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Write, edit, repeat.
With the prompts, a tight deadline, and a maximum word/page count, the challenge truly begins. The process of writing, editing, rewriting, and finally pressing submit with a brand new story or screenplay can be a very inspiring experience.
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Keep all the Rights.
Writers retain all the rights to the work they create during the challenges, which means that we could not and would not share the submissions publicly without consent from the authors.
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Feedback on every submission.
Not only does every writer receive feedback from the judges for every submission, but special review forums are available for the participants to submit their work for review from fellow writers.
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A Vibrant Writing Community.
Join over 27,000 writers in our online forum to discuss the challenges, post and review stories, and discuss writing in all facets. We are dedicated to providing a forum that is a welcoming and helpful place for writers of all levels. Click here to visit the forums.
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Cash & Prizes.
There are thousands in cash and prizes for the winners of each challenge.
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Writing for a Good Cause.
We are proud to support global charities dealing with some of the most critical issues facing our world. Two percent of each entry fee is donated to these charities, and writers can choose where their donation goes.
What Our Participants Say
“Just want to say that I am an English teacher, and NYC Midnight competitions have helped me grow as a writer more than any other writing conference, class, or activity I have taken part in. The random prompts, working in unfamiliar genres, the crazy deadlines, the feedback from judges--it's gold. I just won a national short story contest, and the things I learned during NYC helped me get here. Thanks for all you do. Thanks for letting us keep full rights to our stories. Looking forward to many more rounds.”
— Kelli Fitzpatrick
Beavorton, MI, USA
Winning Stories
Read winning short stories from previous challenges.
An elderly palm-reader occupying a tiny bungalow beneath the Vortex rollercoaster on Blackpool Pleasure Beach forms a reluctant friendship with Harry, the fella hired to run the Vortex, knowing one day he will follow his dream to escape to an exotic foreign land.
Length: 1,250 words Year: 2023
Dear students, I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to class today. Looking forward to meeting you—hopefully next week.
Length: 250 words Year: 2022
When a viral disease spreads across the country and threatens to rob everyone of their ability to communicate, two ex-lovers explore reconciliation and reconsider their past, present, and future.
Length: 400 words Year: 2022
An office worker is criticized by her supervisor for not having enough connections with her coworkers.
Length: 969 words Year: 2022
In a cracked clay pot on a tenement stove…
Length: 100 words Year: 2022
To cover his daughter’s school expenses, Vic buys into a pyramid scheme that trades in desperate people’s happiest memories.
Length: 1,193 words Year: 2022
When the chills shake her teeth despite the sun scorching the metal roof above, Almeda burrows into the backroom cot and knows that the refugee camp will be her grave.
Length: 250 words Year: 2021
A teenage girl is rescued from the sea at night, but what waits for her on shore may be more frightening than the water.
Length: 1,000 words Year: 2021
Every cowboy needs a friend like Coyote. I give so many gifts.
Length: 100 words Year: 2021
Improve Your Writing
Read helpful topics about all aspects of writing on our blog.
In screenwriting, locations don't have to be stationary and passive. If used in the right way, they can become just as important as the characters. Leila Murton Poole, two-time winner of the Screenwriting Challenge, shares valuable insights into how she uses locations to enhance her screenplays.
Stephen Walker discusses his experience revising and producing “The Stripper Trade Off”, a 5-page comedy he wrote for NYC Midnight’s Short Screenplay Challenge in 2022. The screenplay went on to win the Committee's Choice award from The Sunny Coast Showdown in Australia, which in turn provided him with $20,000 in funding and a full crew to turn it into a short film.
From an original field of over 1,600 writers worldwide and after three rounds of competition, Leila Murton Poole took home first place in the Screenwriting Challenge 2023. Check out her winning screenplays, in addition to an interview about her experience!
Andrew Kaberline placed 2nd overall in the Screenwriting Challenge 2020 with his short screenplay, "DUMMY," which ended up securing a production grant and filming in Seattle in 2023. He discusses his experience from writing the screenplay in 24 hours to producing it as a short film and making its world premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.
Leila Murton Poole, the winner of the 250-word Microfiction Challenge 2022 and the Screenwriting Challenges 2021 and 2023, shares valuable insights into her writing process.
Tips for writing a beginning, middle, and end in microfiction.
In screenwriting, montage is a tricky—but useful—tool. Alex Sutton, three-time winner of the Screenwriting Challenge, breaks down what exactly makes a good montage great.
Alex Sutton, a familiar face on the winner’s list, took home first place in the Screenwriting Challenge 2022 out of an original field of over 1,500 writers worldwide. This marks Alex's third win in the Screenwriting Challenge, and he shares some valuable insights into his process along with his winning screenplays.
“Can’t sleep, Dad?”
He turns, confused. No walker. I lead him to the couch, fearing a fall. I’m strong, but he’s tall. Too heavy to carry alone.
Length: 100 words Year: 2023