Short Story Challenge 2026
Learn from a Booker Prize winner. Share your story with the world.
Education New Zealand invites university students and recent graduates across Sri Lanka to take the next step in their own storytelling journey.
Education New Zealand Short Story Challenge 2026
Learn from a Booker Prize winner. Share your story with the world.
What happens when a Sri Lankan student heads to New Zealand and follows a lifelong habit of scribbling stories?
For Shehan Karunatilaka, it led to a remarkable writing journey across continents, industries, and genres, culminating in The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, winner of the 2022 Booker Prize.
Today, Shehan is an internationally acclaimed novelist, journalist, screenwriter, and the 2026 Ursula Bethell Writer in Residence at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.
Education New Zealand invites university students and recent graduates across Sri Lanka to take the next step in their own storytelling journey.
About the challenge
Stories have the power to connect people, spark imagination, and help us see the world differently. If you've ever dreamed of writing fiction, this is your opportunity to share your voice, sharpen your craft, and learn from one of the region's most celebrated contemporary writers.
Great stories often begin with ordinary moments: a chance encounter, an unexpected message, a difficult decision, or a simple act of kindness.
We're looking for original short stories exploring how seemingly small choices can create unexpected and lasting change.
Participants are welcome to write in any genre, including literary fiction, contemporary fiction, historical fiction, speculative fiction, magical realism, or any other creative style.
Eligibility & requirements:
- Who can enter: University students and recent graduates in Sri Lanka, aged between 18 and 30 years old.
- Story guidelines: Original, unpublished work written in English, with a maximum of 1,500 words (One entry per participant).
- Format: Submit as a Word document or PDF, including a title and a 50-word synopsis. Participant details should be submitted separately through the entry form.
Challenge theme
“Crossing worlds: From where we come to where we are going”
Need Inspiration? Participants may interpret the theme in any way they choose or use one of the optional writing prompts provided in the official brief.
Why enter?
Top 10 finalists will receive:
An exclusive invitation to a Creative Writing Workshop with Booker Prize-winning author Shehan Karunatilaka - The opportunity to learn directly from an internationally acclaimed writer whose career spans journalism, advertising, travel writing, children's books, screenwriting, and award-winning fiction
A digital Certificate of Achievement
Recognition through Education New Zealand communication channels
Meet your mentor
Born in Sri Lanka and educated in New Zealand, Shehan Karunatilaka is one of South Asia's most celebrated contemporary writers.
He is the author of two novels, a short story collection, and five children's books, including The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, winner of the 2022 Booker Prize, and Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew, winner of the Commonwealth Book Prize.
His work has been translated into more than 30 languages, and he has written for publications including The Guardian, Rolling Stone, GQ, Wisden, National Geographic, and Condé Nast. He also co-wrote the screenplay for 800, the biopic of legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan.
As part of this initiative, the top 10 finalists will participate in an exclusive creative writing workshop with Shehan, gaining practical insights into storytelling, finding their voice, world-building, editing, and developing a sustainable writing practice.
Drawing from his experiences as a writer, journalist, screenwriter, and global literary voice, Shehan's workshop will explore what it takes to create memorable stories in today's rapidly changing world.
Meet the judges
Michelle D'Costa
Writer, Editor and a Creative Writing Mentor
Michelle D'Costa enjoys editing, teaching creative writing, and interviewing writers. Her poetry chapbook, Gulf, was published in 2021, and her work has appeared in numerous international literary journals.
She holds a Master of Creative Writing from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and is the author of You Envy the Coutinhos, her debut novel.
As a writer and educator, Michelle is deeply committed to helping emerging voices develop confidence, craft, and originality in their storytelling.
Dr Gigi Fenster
Award-Winning Author, Creative Writing Lecturer and Literary Advocate
Gigi Fenster is an award-winning New Zealand author and creative writing lecturer. She is the author of the novels The Intentions Book and A Good Winter, both finalists in the New Zealand Book Awards, with A Good Winter winning the Michael Gifkins Prize. She is also the author of the acclaimed memoir Feverish.
Gigi lectures in Creative Writing at Massey University and is the chair of the Wellington Branch of New Zealand Society of Authors, Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa. She is actively involved in mentoring and supporting writers through literary organisations and community initiatives.
Timeline & judging criteria
Judges' decision will be final.
Competition opens: Wednesday, 26 August
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Sunday, 13 September
Top 10 finalists announced: Thursday, 24 September
Creative writing workshop: Thursday, 1 October
Submission guidelines
Story requirements
Participants may interpret the theme in any way they choose or use one of the following optional writing prompts:
- Crossing cultures
- Crossing identities
- Crossing places
- Crossing experiences
- Crossing generations
- Crossing genres or perspectives
Eligibility
- Open to university students and recent graduates in Sri Lanka
- Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years of age
- Original and unpublished work
- Written in English
- Word limit: 1,500 words
- One entry per participant
- Stories must not have won a previous competition
- AI-generated, AI-assisted, or AI-written entries will be disqualified.
Submission format
- Submit your details along with a Google link to the PDF document
- Include a title and a 50-word synopsis for your story in the submission entry
- Use a standard readable font
About Education New Zealand
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) is New Zealand's international education agency. ENZ promotes New Zealand as a world-class education destination and supports learners through globally recognised qualifications, innovative teaching approaches, and life-changing international experiences.
Through initiatives such as the Education New Zealand Short Story Challenge, ENZ celebrates creativity, curiosity, critical thinking, communication, and cross-cultural connections while encouraging the next generation of storytellers to share their unique perspectives with the world.
Ready to begin?
Every great writer starts with a blank page.
Your story could earn you a place in an exclusive masterclass with a Booker Prize-winning author, be read by leading literary professionals, and be featured on this page.
Submit your entry today and take the next step in your creative writing journey.
Submit your story(external link that opens in a new tab)
Not a writer?
No problem! If you're a book lover and would like to attend the autograph-signing session at the Colombo International Book Fair, we'd love to hear from you. Please register your interest below. Spaces may be limited, and registering will ensure you receive updates and event information.
Register your interest here(external link that opens in a new tab)