Have a look below at our annual themes 2026 that your fictitious work must be based on (non-fiction is optional). If you’re up to the challenge, check out our write starters checklist below to help you get started (it’s fully optional)! Don’t forget to read our submissions overview for a brief breakdown!
Annual Themes 2026!
Hooray for The Write Place’s annual themes! Thanks for your interest in submissions at The Write Place. Submission entries commence this coming 15th August 2026 but who says you can’t beat the queue and write in advance? Scroll down for everything else you need to know to write that masterpiece, or pieces… And remember, submissions are processed on a first-come first-served basis. Good luck, and happy writing sarpa salpas!
Our annual themes are updated every 15th March
- Mountain Climber
- Firefighter
- Forest
- Umbrella
- Winter
Whilst you wait for submission entries to become available, here’s a brief breakdown of what to expect:
What We Welcome
We welcome work tailored to our word counts and that fits in with our brand image and values, which you can find outlined below:
We pretty firm sticklers when it comes to word counts, so please make sure your work fits into any of the following brackets:
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Drama – 500 and 3,000 words
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Poetry – 300 – 500 words
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Prose – 300 – 350; 500; 750 – 1,000 and 1,500 words
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Expository – 300 – 1,000 words; 500 words (writing tips only)
Like anyone, we value authenticity so please ensure your work is original and organically crafted (at the moment, we don’t welcome work that has been published elsewhere, sorry!)
Our site, whilst aimed at an adult readership, operates on a YA friendly standard, so please ensure your work is suitable and appropriate.*
*unless exceptions apply, see Terms of Service – The Writer’s Block for more.
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Fiction and non-fiction work of the following genres:
Fiction Genres
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Adventure
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Coming-of-Age (includes Bildungsroman)
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Conceptual
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Crime *
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Dystopian
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Historical
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Horror*
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Mystery
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Psychological
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Realism
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Romance*
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Sci-fi
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Thriller *
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Tragedy
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Utopian
*must be clean, conceptually explored and subject to our value alignments
Expository Genres
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Business and educational
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Self-help and guide copies (including insight and travel)
Other Accepted Criteria
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Works exploring the human condition and/or life commentary
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Works promoting positive, sympathetic/empathetic lessons, morals, perspectives and considerations
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Works specifically aligned with Islamic principles
What We Refuse
Unfortunately, we refuse work that does not meet our conditions, align with our values and is in breach of our terms and policies, which you can find out more on here, and some of which are outlined below:
Breach of Standards
Works containing any graphic, exploitative, criminally endorsing, irreverent or controversial content, or any other restrictions outlined in our Terms of Service and policies.
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Any work lacking in originality or containing or poses risk of copyright infrignement
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Any work beyond our word count scope, (so please be careful!)
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Fantasy, Historical and Horror genres (Horror, unless conceptual) (fiction)
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Biographies, autobiographies and memoirs (non-fiction)
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Historical, Philosophical, Journalistic and Commentary-style (non-fiction)
Don’t forget to subscribe to The Write Place Newsletter to receive the latest updates about stories, submissions and more!
Submission Seasons, Deadlines and Process
Once available, submissions will run from the end of Summer through Autumn, commencing on the 15th of August and end on the 15th October annually. Unless otherwise specified, deadlines for submission entries are the same as the submission season wraparound; please ensure you send us your submission(s) by 23:59 (BWT) on the aforementioned date in order for us to accept it.
Submission Process
Following the end of the submission season, we will process submissions from the onset of 6am. Our submission processes can take between 4 to 16 weeks.
Themes and Parts of Speech
Occasionally, we may host themes available throughout the annual year. You’re welcome to give incorporating them into your work a try! Since we love a literary challenge at The Write Place, we also introduce specific criteria to include in your work, such as jargon nouns and non-jargon adverbs, which must also be theme related. These conditions will be clearly posted during the submission seasons should they be activated. Have fun, and practice how to strengthen your writing ahead of time by employing such methods! Good luck!
The Write Starters Checklist
| Jargon Nouns + Non-Jargon Verbs (amount per) | Literary Devices (choice of x1 minimum or multiple) |
|---|---|
| 5 | Anaphora |
| 7 | Assonance |
| 9 | Bathos |
| 11 | Cacophony |
| / | Chiasmus |
| / | Epimone |
| / | Metonymy |
| / | Synecdoche |
| / | Zoomorphism |
| * please incorporate the equivalent amount of each jargon noun and non-jargon verb rather than intermix. You’re more than welcome to using additional other parts of speech to develop theme-based vocabulary as well, i.e. adjectives and adverbs only! | * our selection of literary devices are simply a guide. You can add your own variety of devices but please make sure they are more challenging than the basic seven, i.e. metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia, alliteration and repetition (though, your stories are more than welcome to still include them as well!) |
Don’t forget to check out these amazing works from our talented contributors and show them your write support!
‘No one asked or forced you to do this. Remember that,’ the once frenzied energy in his voice became lethargic: The most recent hunting expedition had been achieved…
When we tell stories in real life, we allow them the freedom to flow, without the overbearing uncertainty that comes with the need to impress. Word vomit. And not the nice flowery kind.
Read the latest write tip on Memory and Lasting! In this second part, Marisa explores how, if done write, writing can emulate the process of pregnancy to birth.
Continue Reading Memory and Lasting: Growing the Embryo in Your Mind
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