Hello everyone! I have some big and exciting news! I will be judging my first International Writing Contest!! Being an international writing contest judge for the International Jay Yes Short Story Contest 2026 is an honor I never imagined. As you know I love reading stories from around the world. Each one a new window into diverse lives and cultures of the people who write them. It always fills me with gratitude and awe with how amazing people’s creative minds work.. It’s like being invited to a global gathering where every writer shares a piece of their worlds through words! What I love most is the connection these stories create! So, here’s a little more about the contest and if you can submit!
International Jay Yes Short Story Contest 2026 – Open category
- Theme: Seeking Refuge: Stories of Displacement
- Genre: Short story
- Submission period: 8 January to 8 May 2026
- What are we looking for? mind blowing narratives/unpublished Short stories 2500-4000 words long
- Reading period: 9 May to 31 June 2026
Eligibility:
1.The contest is open to writers aged eighteen (18) years and above who have not traditionally published a solo book-length work. Authors who have published poetry but not prose, self-published authors, and those who have contributed individual stories to anthologies remain eligible.
2.All submissions must be original and unpublished in any form, including but not limited to personal blogs, websites, and social media platforms. Translations, adaptations, or derivative works are not eligible.
3.The use of artificial intelligence tools in the creation of the submitted work, as well as plagiarism in any form, is strictly prohibited. All entrants are required to submit a declaration affirming the originality and sole authorship of the work.
4.Submissions must be made in MS Word format and must be between 2,500 and 4,000 words in length. Manuscripts must be formatted in Times New Roman, 12-point font, double-spaced, with pages numbered consecutively. To ensure anonymous evaluation, the author’s name must not appear anywhere in the manuscript. The first page must contain only the title of the work and the total word count, which shall not be included in the overall word count.
5.The file name must consist solely of the story title in capital letters (CAPS) and must not include the author’s name or the words “JAY Yes”.
6.Where local-language words, phrases, or culturally specific terms that are not self-explanatory are used, a glossary must be provided at the end of the manuscript. The glossary shall not be included in the word count.
Prizes:
- 3 top winning entries get publishing contracts with zero degree publishing, one of the renowned publishers based in India.
- 3 distinguished jury favourites
- 3 honourable jury mentions
- Several selections – all worthy of inclusion into the anthology
- Short story inclusion into the Global Anthology
- A copy of the global anthology
- Podcast opportunities
- Media visibility
- Every participating contest receives printable hd digital certificate
- And more
NO Submission fee
DEADLINE: 8 May 2026
Submissions MUST be sent only via official form
Submission Checklist:
- Short story/submission (to be submitted as MSWORD file) to be uploaded
- Declaration form – filled, signed, and uploaded
Submit short story via google form:
Our Jury:
- Eric Valles – Philippines
- Lalitha Ramanathan – Singapore
Lovelace cook – USA - Sangeetha Vallat – India/Dubai
San Lin Tun – Myanmar - And Me!! – USA
Contact sankari01sg@gmail.com for any questions
MEDIA PARTNERS
- M.O.P. Community Radio Station
- Adyartimes
- Porur times
- Bookitup
- Dee Square Marketing
About the contest
The Jay Yes International Short Story Contest 2026 is a global writing competition created for unpublished writers aspiring to share their stories with the world. Participants are invited to submit original short stories, which will be evaluated by a distinguished international jury for possible inclusion in a published anthology. Exceptional entries may also be considered for further publishing opportunities with the contest’s publishing partner, Zero Degree Publishing. There are other benefits including podcast opportunities for winners and contributors of anthology. With no entry fee and driven by an inclusive literary vision, the contest champions a shared commitment to storytelling. The jury eagerly looks forward to discovering bold, moving, and truly jaw-dropping narratives from across the globe. Organised by the Jay Yes Foundation, founded by internationally acclaimed author Jayanthi Sankar, the contest reflects the foundation’s guiding motto: “Building sustainable literary communities by nurturing talent, celebrating creativity, and sharing stories that keep the human spirit alive.”
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