Why themes? Readers play favorites, you know. Everybody has their favorite genres and our contest’s season themes are here to assemble winning story collections that readers will love. These themes function as story prompts for our author base, suggesting fun mashups and settings for the most creative, hard-hitting fiction. We only accept stories that fit these themes, and we wish you much Havok as you craft your best work!
Season 13: Encore – Now open!
SEASON 13 THEMES PDFs: We highly recommend checking out these resources for ideas as you craft your story! Feel free to tag @havokauthornews on Instagram or email authorcentral@gohavok.com with any questions about our themes and guidelines. Sign up for our author newsletter (see sidebar on this page; scroll down on mobile) for tips from our editors and news about author contests.
ATTENTION: Deadlines for themes (World Tour and onward) have been changed as of 5/9/26. New deadlines are below and in the updated printable PDF. For the rest of Season 13, we plan to have only ONE theme open at a time. DON’T MISS THE WINDOW!
Download Season 13: Encore! themes and deadlines
Get inspiration from all 12 original Season theme details
NOTE: Deadlines are always for 11:59pm Pacific time on the date indicated. Get those stories in by midnight, or they’ll turn into pumpkins!
Season 13: World Tour: SUBMISSIONS CLOSED (June 1).
Season 13: Encore! Legendary
(DEADLINE: June 12, 2026 – UPDATED)
In an age bursting with “award winners” and “bestsellers,” it’s easy to imagine all of our favorite stories being immortalized in leatherbound tomes for all future generations to enjoy. In reality, very few tales stand the test of time. But every so often, magic happens, and a certain combination of words conveys something so unforgettable that humanity has no choice but to preserve it. So, prepare to harness the most enduring elements throughout mankind’s literary tradition and create your own version of something truly epic, which includes legendary creatures, people, locations, things, and events. Publishes in October 2026. For detailed inspiration, see the original Legendary themes (PDF).
Now Go Write!
Using the season theme above for ideas, go write and then send us your best story that fits any of our Accepted Genres (mystery, thriller, humor, science fiction, and fantasy). Be sure to download and use our Manuscript Formatting template and follow the Submission Guidelines!
Each theme listed below will open when the previous theme is closed.
Season 13: Encore! Remember When
(DEADLINE: July 10, 2026 – UPDATED)
As writers, we spend most of our time in the background, watching and writing about everyone else’s experiences and exploits. But Havok wants to hear about you… again! Pick any of the four seasons of the year and narrate your tales of winter wonder, spring storms, summer staycations, and fall frights. And, strictly speaking, it doesn’t have to be an auto-biographical account, as long as you narrate the story with a strong personal voice. So, feel free to share your grandpa’s claims about the time aliens abducted him from Mardi Gras. No judgment here. Just make your story reflect something about a specific day or season of the year. January winter storms and resolutions, February Valentine’s day thrills (or disappointments), March sporting madness or springtime floods, April Easter celebrations or wildflower tours. You get the idea. Publishes in November 2026. For detailed inspiration, see the original Remember When themes (PDF).
Season 13: Encore! Multiversal
(DEADLINE: August 14, 2026 – UPDATED)
If you’re like most writers, you can trace your love of creating stories back to a particular author. And at some point, you probably dreamed of collaborating with them or writing stories based on their worlds or characters. Historically, this was an impossible dream except in the limited scope of fan fiction… Until Season 12, when Havok acquired stories all year long based on original characters created exclusively for this contest by our hand-selected lineup of best-selling and award-winning authors! Our list of unforgettable characters includes Joe Enza, Kytt Windthorn, Spark Spaulding, Zaivar “Zai” Witz, Phezznibbet “Phezz” Maplebark, Ethel Grieves, Miriel Takkenridge, Harmony Star, Luke James (aka Therrus), Alice (of Wonderland fame), Dorian Gray, and the ever-lovable curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge. Your story must feature one of these twelve characters, although they do not have to be the “main” character of the story. See the entire list of character profiles at our website or you can download them as a printable PDF. Publishes in December 2026.
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