Paranormal Daily News (PDN) invites writers from around the world to submit original short fiction exploring the paranormal, the unexplained, consciousness, and the liminal spaces between reality and imagination. The PDN Short Story Competition is designed to discover thoughtful and compelling stories that push beyond conventional boundaries while contributing to meaningful dialogue about anomalous phenomena and human experience.
Selected stories will be published on Paranormal Daily News and permanently archived as part of the PDN literary collection. Winning authors will also receive editorial recognition and exposure across PDN media platforms.
The PDN Short Story Competition operates on a quarterly cycle. Submissions are accepted throughout each quarter, with winners announced following editorial review and reader engagement. There has to be a min of 15 stories submitted before the round will close and adjuducation begins.
This competition supports emerging and established writers who explore themes such as:
Stories may be speculative, literary, supernatural, or psychological in tone, provided they align with the broader mission of PDN to thoughtfully explore the unexplained.
The PDN Short Story Competition launches with a foundational prize pool of $250 as part of its founding year. As the competition grows in participation, reputation, and visibility, the prize fund will increase accordingly in future cycles.
The entry fee for the PDN Short Story Competition is $15 per story submission.
Entries are limited so the editorial team can devote time to reviewing and selecting the winning stories. All applicants will receive communication regarding their entry.
Submission fees help support the editorial work of Paranormal Daily News and the development of the Parawize Journal. These funds contribute to the costs of publishing original work, maintaining the platform, and supporting educational and research initiatives related to consciousness studies, anomalous phenomena, and the broader exploration of the unexplained.
The competition will also support publication of books in the field of parapsychology and the paranormal through PDN Books.
A portion of entry fees is allocated directly to the competition prize fund.
Authors may submit multiple stories. Each story must be entered separately and accompanied by the entry fee. Authors are welcome to participate in each quarterly competition cycle.
Submissions should demonstrate strong storytelling, originality, and thoughtful engagement with themes related to the unexplained.
All submissions are reviewed by the PDN editorial team.
Stories are evaluated based on:
The PDN Short Story Competition is designed not only to recognize strong storytelling but also to provide meaningful exposure for writers exploring themes connected to the unexplained.
Authors selected for awards or publication may receive:
Authors retain full copyright of their work.
By submitting to the PDN Short Story Competition, authors grant Paranormal Daily News the right to publish selected stories on the PDN platform and associated media channels.
Stories may also be considered for inclusion in future PDN literary collections or anthologies with the author’s permission.
Paranormal Daily News is committed to providing a platform for thoughtful exploration of anomalous phenomena, consciousness research, and the unexplained. Competitions such as this help sustain independent publishing efforts while supporting educational and research‑focused initiatives connected to the Parawize Journal.
By submitting your work, you contribute to a growing community dedicated to exploring ideas that exist beyond conventional boundaries.
Submissions are accepted through our official entry form.
* Please review all guidelines before submitting your work.