2024 Grist Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors Short Story Contest

Eligibility Criteria

• The contest is open to writers anywhere in the world, except where participation is prohibited or restricted by applicable law. 
• All authors must be 18 years or older at the time of submission.
• Submissions must be fictional stories between 2,500 and 5,000 words.
• Submissions must be written in English. We are not able to translate stories from other languages at this time.
• Submissions must not have been previously published, nor received a prize or distinction in another contest.
• We do not accept simultaneous submissions (stories can only be submitted to this contest and not to others, until we have informed you of the result).
• Only one submission will be accepted per entrant.
• Submissions can be co-authored by more than one entrant. Only one of the co-authors should submit the story. The submissions form will offer a way to list the other co-author(s). If a co-authored story is selected for publication, all authors will be credited, and prize money will be divided between them. 
• Your story may not have been generated or written, in whole or in part, by artificial intelligence.

Offered Benefits

• The winning writer will be awarded $3,000.
• The second- and third-place winners receive $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.
• An additional nine finalists will each receive $300. All winners and finalists will have their story published in an immersive collection on Grist’s website.

We are also partnering with Oregon State University’s  Spring Creek Project, which will offer the winning writer (or a runner-up, in the case the winner cannot accept) the opportunity to participate in its Environmental Writing Fellowship and Residency, including a writing residency at the Cabin at Shotpouch Creek for the winner to spend up to four weeks in residence to continue their climate writing project. The Fellow will receive a $3,000 honorarium from Spring Creek Project.

Application Process

In 2,500 to 5,000 words, show us the world you dream of building: Your story should be set sometime between the near future and roughly the year 2200.

• Submissions will only be accepted through Submittable — click the “submit” button at the bottom of this page when you’re ready! If you need accessibility accommodations, please email the team at .

How to prep your story file:

• Your short story should be uploaded as a word document (.doc acceptable; .docx preferred.)
• Your word document should be named as such: title of your story - YEAR; Ex. Story Title - 2024
• Your document should not contain any identifying biographical information (including your name).
• The first page of your document should include your story’s title and word count at the top in Arial 14-point font.
• The rest of your document should be in Arial 12-point font with double line spacing, and at least one-inch margins.
• All document pages should include a header in the upper right-hand corner with the correct sequential page number, starting on page 1, and your story’s title.