Literature Live! is back with its annual MyStory contest. Submit an original piece of writing, prose or poetry, and stand a chance to read it at the festival in October! Winners will also have the opportunity to interact with authors at a curated event, and have excerpts of their work featured in the festival brochure. It's time to make your story heard!

• Entries can be prose or poetry.

• Entries must be in English only.

• Entries are restricted to 3000 characters (not words).

• Participants can be from anywhere in India.

• Submissions close at 11:59 pm on 20th August, 2026.

• Entries must be original work. Use of generative artificial intelligence technology is not permitted.

• Literature Live! reserves the right to disqualify work that doesn't adhere to these guidelines.
   

A total of 7 winners will be selected in the following manner:

• 3 winners based on a combination of popular vote and the contest judge's decision.

• 4 winners (2 prose and 2 poetry) chosen by our jury based purely on literary merit (votes in this case will not matter).